If your basement flooded tomorrow, would your insurance pay for it? For most homes in Metro Detroit, the honest answer is “probably not, or not all of it.” We pulled the federal flood insurance records for Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, and the numbers explain why so many families end up paying for cleanup and repairs out of pocket.
The numbers: almost nobody here has flood insurance
- 0.42% coverage. FEMA counts 5,813 residential flood insurance policies across about 1.38 million residential buildings in the three counties. That’s fewer than 1 home in 200.
- Three disasters in nine years. All three counties were part of federally declared flood disasters in August 2014, June 2021 and August 2023. After each one, roughly 99,000 to 143,000 households applied for FEMA aid, but only 543, 151 and 138 flood insurance claims were filed.
- It’s a basement problem. About 89% of insured flood claims with a recorded foundation type involved a basement.
- Outside the flood zone still floods. 38% of claims with a recorded flood zone came from outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
- Rain, not rivers. 61% of claims with a recorded cause came from heavy rain or snowmelt; 25% came from streams, rivers or lakes overflowing.
- Hotspots. ZIP 48125 (Dearborn Heights) had 331 claims since 2014, the most in the three counties. Detroit’s 48215 had 249.
You can look up your own county and ZIP in our full basement flooding data guide for Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.
Does homeowners insurance cover a flooded basement in Michigan?
It depends on where the water came from, and that’s the part most people don’t find out until the adjuster shows up:
- Groundwater or surface water coming through walls, cracks or the floor is “flood” to an insurer. Standard homeowners policies generally exclude it. Only a separate flood policy (NFIP or private) covers it.
- Sewer or drain backup (water coming up through a floor drain or toilet) is usually excluded too unless you added a water backup / sump overflow endorsement. These add-ons often carry their own, lower limit.
- A burst pipe or failed water heater is the kind of sudden internal water damage a standard policy is most likely to cover.
Call your agent and ask two direct questions: “Do I have water backup coverage, and what’s the limit?” and “Would groundwater through my basement walls be covered?” Write down the answers.
If your basement floods: protect your claim
- Stay out of standing water near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel.
- Take photos and video of the water level, the source (floor drain, wall, crack) and damaged belongings before anything is moved.
- If you think the city sewer backed up into your home, Michigan law gives you 45 days to send written notice to the sewer system operator to make a claim. Don’t wait on it.
- Get the water out and the space dried quickly. Mold can start in 24 to 48 hours. We handle basement flood cleanup: pump-out, tear-out and haul-away of wet drywall, carpet and framing, drying and disinfecting. We don’t do the rebuild.
- Then fix the cause so it doesn’t happen again.
One note for Detroit homeowners: the city’s Basement Backup Protection Program was closed as of November 6, 2026, so don’t count on it for help.
The cheaper fix: stop the water before it needs a claim
Insurance pays after the damage. These keep the damage from happening:
- A backwater valve stops city sewer water from coming up through your floor drain during heavy storms.
- A sump pump with a battery backup keeps groundwater moving out even when the power goes out with the storm.
- Interior drain tile or exterior waterproofing stops groundwater coming through walls and the cove joint.
- Downspouts extended at least 6 feet from the house and soil sloped away from the foundation.
Frequently asked questions
Does homeowners insurance cover basement flooding in Michigan?
Usually not for groundwater or surface water, which counts as flood and needs a separate flood policy. Sewer backup is usually covered only if you added a water backup endorsement. Sudden internal leaks like a burst pipe are the most likely to be covered.
How many homes in Metro Detroit have flood insurance?
FEMA counts 5,813 residential flood policies for about 1.38 million residential buildings in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, or about 0.42%.
Can I make a claim against the city if the sewer backed up into my basement?
Michigan law requires written notice to the sewer system operator within 45 days of discovering the damage. Document everything with photos and send the notice in writing.
Do I need flood insurance if I’m not in a flood zone?
In our three counties, 38% of flood claims with a recorded zone came from outside FEMA’s high-risk zones, and most came from heavy rain. A flood zone map doesn’t tell the whole story for a basement.
Sources: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program policy and claims data, FEMA disaster declarations and assistance data, NOAA storm records and Michigan EGLE sewer discharge reports, 2014 to 2026. This guide expands on our press release, Fewer Than 1 in 200 Metro Detroit Homes Has Flood Insurance, New Data Shows, distributed by EIN Presswire on November 8, 2026.
Mansour’s Innovations is a family-owned waterproofing, excavation and plumbing contractor in Shelby Township, Michigan, serving Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties since 2014. Owner Imad “Matt” Mansour has 20+ years in the trade and the crew has completed 1,600+ projects. Our waterproofing work carries a 25-year transferable limited warranty. We’re open 8 AM to 8 PM, 7 days a week. Call or text (586) 345-7292 or book a free estimate online.
