Photo: Gpwitteveen · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Georgetown Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Georgetown Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #222 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 36 claims here since 1981.
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 stands out about Georgetown Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Georgetown 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
Tornadoes
Strong wind
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 Georgetown Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Georgetown Township, and Georgetown Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 7% (higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #222 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Georgetown Township’s residents live in 13 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, Georgetown Township has less expected damage per building than 68% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.4M a year in losses across Georgetown Township: $6.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Georgetown Township flood? Sometimes: 36 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Georgetown Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike2 claims · $30K
Georgetown 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: Ottawa County.The storms Georgetown Township remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Ottawa County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Georgetown Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201322 flood claims paidThe year of Flooding, declared for Ottawa County
- 20086 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Ottawa County
- 19812 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Ottawa County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Georgetown Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Georgetown Township archive →Georgetown Township and its neighbors
Georgetown Township is 6th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandville | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Jamestown Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wyoming | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
| Hudsonville | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Blendon Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Georgetown Township | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Allendale Township | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Tallmadge Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
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 Georgetown 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.
- 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 Georgetown Township
Is Georgetown Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Georgetown Township has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #222 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Georgetown Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 36 claims in Georgetown Township since 1981, $376K in all, or 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (2).
Is Georgetown 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 Ottawa County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Georgetown Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Georgetown 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 Georgetown Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 2 paid, $30K.
Is Georgetown Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Georgetown Township’s rate for it is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Georgetown Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Georgetown 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.