Less hazard damage per building is expected in Hayes Township than in 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hayes Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #70 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). 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 Hayes 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 Hayes Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hayes Township, and Hayes Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 9% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
A #70 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hayes Township’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, Hayes Township has less expected damage per building than 90% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $908K a year in losses across Hayes Township: $587K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hayes Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Hayes Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
The storms Hayes Township remembers
None of the 4 disasters declared for Otsego County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Hayes Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Otsego County has had 4 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.
Hayes Township and its neighbors
Hayes Township is 6th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mancelona Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Elmira Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Star Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Bagley Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Otsego Lake Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hayes Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Frederic Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lakes of the North | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Hayes 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 Hayes Township
Is Hayes Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hayes Township has lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #70 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hail (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Hayes 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.
How much is flood insurance in Hayes Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hayes Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Hayes Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Hayes Township’s rate for it is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hayes Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hayes 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.