Boyne City Central Historic District · Photo: rossograph · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Boyne City than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boyne City gets an A+ for hazard risk: among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #8 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). 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 Boyne City 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 Boyne City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Boyne City, and Boyne City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #8 of 701 in Michigan; among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
Boyne City’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, Boyne City has less expected damage per building than 99% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Boyne City: $542K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Boyne City flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Boyne City. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Boyne City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Charlevoix County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Boyne City
Disasters that paid out in Boyne City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Boyne City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding16 households applied for aid$69K aid approved
- 2025Severe Winter Storm$55K to the City of Boyne City for repairs
Charlevoix 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 Boyne City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Boyne City archive →Boyne City and its neighbors
Boyne City has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boyne City | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Eveline Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wilson Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Boyne Valley Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Evangeline Township | — | 696 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Advance | — | 377 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 Boyne City 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 Boyne City
Is Boyne City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boyne City has among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #8 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Boyne City 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 Charlevoix County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Boyne City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Boyne City’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 Boyne City?
By FEMA money that reached Boyne City, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2026): 16 households applied for aid, $69K approved.
Is Boyne City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Boyne City’s rate for it is lower than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Boyne City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Boyne City’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.