Spectacle Reef Light Station · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Benton Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Benton Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #644 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1991.
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 Benton 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 Benton Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 98% of the building damage FEMA expects in Benton Township, and Benton Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #644 of 701 in Michigan; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Benton Township’s residents live in 3 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, Benton Township has more expected damage per building than 92% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Benton Township: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Benton Township flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1991
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Benton Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-04-Flooding1 claim · $15K
Benton 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: Cheboygan County.The storms Benton Township remembers
None of the 5 disasters declared for Cheboygan County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Benton Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19911 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20261 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Cheboygan County
Cheboygan County has had 5 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 Benton Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Benton Township archive →Benton Township and its neighbors
Benton Township is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheboygan | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Inverness Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Benton Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Grant Township | — | 927 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Aloha Township | — | not graded yet | |
| Bearinger Township | — | 397 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 Benton 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 Benton Township
Is Benton Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Benton Township has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #644 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Benton Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Benton Township since 1991, $208K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2026-04-Flooding (1).
Is Benton 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 Cheboygan County, 6% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Benton Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Benton 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 Benton Township?
By flood claims, 2026-04-Flooding: 1 paid, $15K.
Is Benton Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (98%), and Benton Township’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Benton Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Benton 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.