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Flooding in Lansing, MI: the figures

Plain answers for Lansing homes, drawn from the data behind the area's water damage calls.

80% of homes in Lansing were built before 1980.

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  • Calls answered 24/7
  • Written estimate before work starts
  • Water removal, drying and repair

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Technical drawing of flood damage restoration: flooded basement cleanup, storm water cleanup and crawl space water removal.
What flood damage restoration includes: flooded basement cleanup, storm water cleanup and crawl space water removal.

From your call to a written estimate

  1. Call (833) 728-2327

    Say what is wet, where the water came from and whether it is still running. The call is answered any hour.

  2. Stop the source

    If water is still coming in, you are walked through the shutoff valve or the breaker first.

  3. Inspection and written estimate

    The crew checks the water category, measures moisture in walls and floors, photographs the damage and writes the estimate before work starts.

Call (833) 728-2327

Written for homeowners in the Lansing area.

In Lansing, 33% of homes were built before 1950, when walls were often finished in plaster rather than drywall.

What the flood figures say for Lansing

Lansing's flood claim rate sits a little above Ingham County's. FEMA flood insurance records show 0.9 claims per 1,000 homes in the city from 2016 to 2025, against 0.6 for the county and 0.7 for Michigan, and the average building payment in the county was $26,443. Federal flood insurance is more common here than statewide: 0.7% of Ingham County homes carry it, against 0.4%. FEMA's National Risk Index puts the city's yearly inland flood loss at 63 per $100,000 of building value, close to the county's 64.

The Grand and Red Cedar rivers meet in Lansing, and homes on low ground near them can see high water first after heavy rain or a fast thaw. NOAA climate normals show about 6 days a year with an inch of rain or more and 44 inches of snow, and snowmelt on frozen ground sends water toward foundations. Ingham County has had 3 major disaster declarations for floods and storms since 2000. With 80% of homes built before 1980, older basement walls and floor drains can let that water in.

River water and snowmelt that reach a basement are Category 3 because they carry soil, runoff and sewage. The restoration crew removes soaked carpet, paneling and drywall and disinfects before drying. Standard homeowners policies exclude it, and sump pump or sewer backup needs its own endorsement. If spring water reaches your basement in the Lansing area, ask for water removal and have the crew record the water line.

Lansing flood figures

Figures for Lansing, home to about 112,546 people.

46% of homes in Lansing are rented, against 40% across Ingham County. If you rent, tell your landlord or property manager about the leak right away.

With about 44 inches of snow a year in Lansing's ZIP codes, snowmelt and ice along roof edges can push water into ceilings and walls.

24% of homes in Lansing are in buildings with five or more units.

  • 80% Homes built before 1980Ingham County: 65% Lansing80%Ingham65%MI62%
  • 55,628 Housing units
  • 112,546 Residents
  • 33% Homes built before 1950Ingham County: 23% Lansing33%Ingham23%MI22%
  • 46% Homes that are rentedIngham County: 40% Lansing46%Ingham40%MI27%
  • 44 Average snowfall a year, in inchesIngham County: 39 Lansing44Ingham39MI50
  • 24% Homes in buildings with 5 or more unitsIngham County: 26% Lansing24%Ingham26%MI13%
  • 62 Nights a year at or below 20 degreesIngham County: 64 Lansing62Ingham64MI58
  • 2% Mobile and manufactured homesIngham County: 3% Lansing2%Ingham3%MI5%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates; FEMA OpenFEMA, FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, claims from 2016 to 2025 (not endorsed by FEMA); FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Residential Penetration Rates v1 (not endorsed by FEMA); FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, December 2025 (not endorsed by FEMA); NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, nearest weather station; FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 (not endorsed by FEMA).

Lowering the risk in Lansing

Lansing gets 44 inches of snow a year and 51 days that stay below freezing, so its basements face the hardest test in the thaw, when meltwater and spring rain arrive together. Before then, clear out each downspout and extend it well past the foundation, and fill settled soil so it slopes away. Census figures show 80% of homes here were built before 1980, and older basements tend to have more cracks and older floor drains.

Test the sump pump by pouring a bucket of water into the pit, and add a battery backup for storms that cut power. Clear snow and leaves from window wells and fit covers. Keep papers, photos and electronics on shelves rather than the basement floor. Check your address on the FEMA flood map, and if you want flood insurance, buy it early, because FEMA notes a 30-day waiting period before a new policy takes effect. Ask your agent about sewer backup cover at the same time.

With 143 nights a year at or below 32 degrees, insulate pipes on outside walls and drain outdoor spigots in the fall. When water gets in, shut off power to the basement if you can reach the panel safely, photograph it and call. Renters, 46% of households, should alert the landlord right away. Water mitigation starts with extraction and moisture readings, and water removal in East Lansing follows the same order. When a floor drain backs up, the job becomes sewage cleanup.

Records to keep before a flood

Get ready in Lansing before the water does. Check your address on FEMA's flood maps, record a short video of every room, and keep policy numbers and the location of the main shutoff and breaker panel on paper. Store important papers above the basement floor. When water comes in, take photos of the water line before anything is moved; those pictures matter for the cleanup plan and for any claim. Laminate and hardwood under floodwater often need subfloor water damage repair once drying ends.

What Lansing callers ask about floods

What does a FEMA flood risk rating mean for my Lansing home?

The rating compares the expected flood losses of Ingham County with the rest of the country. It is a guide to the area's exposure, not a promise for your address, so look at your flood zone, your lot and your basement as well.

How do I keep storm water out of a Lansing basement?

Keep downspouts discharging several feet from the foundation, grade soil away from the house, test the sump pump before storm season and add a battery backup, and check window wells and basement door seals. Flood insurance covers what still gets in from outside.

Is flood cleanup different from other water damage?

Floodwater carries soil, chemicals and bacteria, so the job adds tear-out and disinfection before drying. Carpet pad and drywall below the water line are removed, not dried in place.

What should I do after floodwater gets into my Lansing home?

Stay out of standing water until the power to that area is off, and keep children and pets away, because floodwater can carry sewage and chemicals. Photograph the water line on the walls, move what you can to a dry room and call for flood cleanup. Carpet, pad and drywall below the water line usually have to come out.

Where can I check the flood zone for a Lansing address?

FEMA's Flood Map Service Center shows the mapped flood zone for any address. Check it for your Lansing home, keep a copy, and remember that basements outside high-risk zones still take in water during heavy rain.

More Lansing guides

Every Lansing water damage guide

One call for water damage in Lansing

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