Photo: TCP04 · CC BY 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Gladstone than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gladstone gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #393 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1986.
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 Gladstone 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 Gladstone’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gladstone, and Gladstone’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 9% (higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #393 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Gladstone’s residents live in 2 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, Gladstone has more expected damage per building than 56% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Gladstone: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gladstone flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gladstone, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Gladstone isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Delta County.The storms Gladstone remembers
None of the 3 disasters declared for Delta County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Gladstone itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19861 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19961 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Delta County has had 3 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Gladstone after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gladstone archive →Gladstone and its neighbors
Gladstone is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escanaba Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Brampton Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Gladstone | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Ensign Township | — | 837 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 Gladstone 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 Gladstone
Is Gladstone at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gladstone has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #393 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and hail (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Gladstone flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Gladstone since 1986, $4K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Gladstone 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 Delta County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Gladstone?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Gladstone’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Gladstone at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Gladstone’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gladstone.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gladstone’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.