Gwinn Model Town Historic District · Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Forsyth Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forsyth Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #505 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then hail (24%). 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 Forsyth 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
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 Forsyth Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Forsyth Township, and Forsyth Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 24%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #505 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Forsyth 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, Forsyth Township has more expected damage per building than 72% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.8M a year in losses across Forsyth Township: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Forsyth Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Forsyth Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Forsyth 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Forsyth Township
Disasters that paid out in Forsyth Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Forsyth Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2002Flooding$25K to Forsyth Township for repairs
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 Forsyth Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Forsyth Township archive →Forsyth Township and its neighbors
Forsyth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Branch Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Tilden Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Sands Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Forsyth Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Richmond Township | — | 724 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Skandia Township | — | 994 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Wells Township | — | 196 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| West Branch Township | — | 49 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Turin Township | — | 100 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Ewing Township | — | 221 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 Forsyth 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.
- 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 Forsyth Township
Is Forsyth Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forsyth Township has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #505 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and hail (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Forsyth 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 Forsyth Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Forsyth 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 Forsyth Township?
By FEMA money that reached Forsyth Township, Flooding (2002): $25K to Forsyth Township for repairs.
Is Forsyth Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Forsyth Township’s rate for it is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Forsyth Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Forsyth 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.