Photo: Protopian Pickle Jar · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Bear Creek Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bear Creek Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #25 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Bear Creek Township faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Bear Creek Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bear Creek Township, and Bear Creek Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #25 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bear Creek Township’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Michigan town has lower expected damage than 77% of U.S. towns; within the state, Bear Creek Township has less expected damage per building than 97% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Bear Creek Township: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bear Creek Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Bear Creek Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Bear Creek Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Emmet County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Bear Creek Township
Disasters that paid out in Bear Creek Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Bear Creek Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Winter Storm$60K to Bear Creek Township for repairs
Emmet County has had 4 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bear Creek Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bear Creek Township archive →Bear Creek Township and its neighbors
Bear Creek Township is 3rd of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petoskey | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Resort Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Bear Creek Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Melrose Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Little Traverse Township | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Springvale Township | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Bay View | — | 164 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Conway | — | 237 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Bear Creek Township faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Bear Creek Township
Is Bear Creek Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bear Creek Township has lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #25 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Bear Creek Township in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Emmet County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Bear Creek Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bear Creek Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Bear Creek Township?
By FEMA money that reached Bear Creek Township, Severe Winter Storm (2025): $60K to Bear Creek Township for repairs.
Is Bear Creek Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Bear Creek Township’s rate for it is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bear Creek Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bear Creek Township’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.