Vista Theater · Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Ely Township than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ely Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then hail (29%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2023.
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 Ely 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
Hail
Wildfire
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 Ely Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ely Township, and Ely Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 29%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ely Township’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $821K a year in losses across Ely Township: $390K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ely Township flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2023
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ely Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Ely 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: Marquette County.The storms Ely Township remembers
None of the 7 disasters declared for Marquette County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Ely Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20231 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Marquette County has had 7 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Marquette County, 1999–1999.
Old photos of Ely Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ely Township archive →Ely Township and its neighbors
Ely Township is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ishpeming Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Sagola Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Tilden Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Ely Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Humboldt Township | — | 448 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Champion Township | — | 154 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| West Branch Township | — | 49 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Felch Township | — | 501 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 Ely 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Ely Township
Is Ely Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ely Township has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and hail (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ely Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Ely Township since 2023, $23K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Ely 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 Marquette County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ely Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ely Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Ely Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Ely Township’s rate for it is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ely Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ely 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.