Hartwick, Edward E., Memorial Building · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Grayling Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grayling Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #574 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2026.
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 Grayling 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
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 Grayling Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Grayling Township, and Grayling Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 5%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B #574 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Grayling 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, Grayling Township has more expected damage per building than 82% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Grayling Township: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Grayling Township flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2026
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Grayling Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-04-Flooding1 claim · $122K
Grayling 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: Crawford County.The storms Grayling Township remembers
None of the 6 disasters declared for Crawford County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Grayling Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20261 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Crawford County
Crawford County has had 6 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Grayling Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Grayling Township archive →Grayling Township and its neighbors
Grayling Township is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederic Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Beaver Creek Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Grayling Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| South Branch Township | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lovells Township | — | 672 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Maple Forest Township | — | 786 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Bear Lake Township | — | 736 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 Grayling 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.
- 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 Grayling Township
Is Grayling Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grayling Township has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #574 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Grayling Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Grayling Township since 2026, $122K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2026-04-Flooding (1).
Is Grayling 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 Crawford County, 3% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Grayling Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Grayling 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 Grayling Township?
By flood claims, 2026-04-Flooding: 1 paid, $122K.
Is Grayling Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Grayling Township’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Grayling Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Grayling 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.