Greensky Hill Mission · Photo: rossograph · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Hayes Township than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hayes Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims 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 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
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 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hayes Township, and Hayes Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 93% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hayes Township’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $673K a year in losses across Hayes Township: $368K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hayes Township flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2026
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hayes Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-04-Flooding2 claims · $6K
Hayes 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: Charlevoix County.The storms Hayes Township remembers
None of the 5 disasters declared for Charlevoix County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Hayes Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20262 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County has had 5 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 Hayes Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hayes Township archive →Hayes Township and its neighbors
Hayes Township is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlevoix Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hayes Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Bay Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Eveline Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Resort Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Horton Bay | — | 374 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 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.
- 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 among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hayes Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Hayes Township since 2026, $6K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2026-04-Flooding (2).
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. In Charlevoix County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
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.
What was the biggest storm in Hayes Township?
By flood claims, 2026-04-Flooding: 2 paid, $6K.
Is Hayes Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Hayes Township’s rate for it is lower than 93% 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.