Less hazard damage per building is expected in Cato Township than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cato Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #57 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then strong wind (14%). 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 Cato 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
Strong wind
Tornadoes
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 Cato Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cato Township, and Cato Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 14%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
A #57 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cato 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, Cato Township has less expected damage per building than 92% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $778K a year in losses across Cato Township: $566K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cato Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Cato Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Cato 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: Montcalm County.The storms Cato Township remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for Montcalm County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Cato Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Montcalm County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Cato Township and its neighbors
Cato Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cato Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Belvidere Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Pine Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Winfield Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hinton Township | C−more damage than 79% | strong wind | — |
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 Cato 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Cato Township
Is Cato Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cato Township has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #57 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and strong wind (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Cato 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 Montcalm County, 0.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Cato Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cato Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Cato Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Cato Township’s rate for it is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cato Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cato 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.