Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Ironwood than in 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ironwood gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #16 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1996.
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 Ironwood 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 Ironwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ironwood, and Ironwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Lightning adds 1%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #16 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ironwood’s residents live in 4 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, Ironwood has less expected damage per building than 98% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Ironwood: $666K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ironwood flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ironwood, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Ironwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Gogebic County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ironwood
Disasters that paid out in Ironwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Ironwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$26K to the City of Ironwood for repairs
- 2013Flooding$37K to the City of Ironwood for repairs
- 2002Flooding$215K to the City of Ironwood for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Gogebic County has had 6 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Ironwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ironwood archive →Ironwood and its neighbors
Ironwood has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ironwood | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Hurley | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Ironwood Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Kimball | — | 580 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Oma | — | 309 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Erwin Township | — | 349 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 Ironwood 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 Ironwood
Is Ironwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ironwood has lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #16 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ironwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Ironwood since 1996, $23K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Ironwood 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 Gogebic County, 0.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Ironwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ironwood’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 Ironwood?
By FEMA money that reached Ironwood, Flooding (2002): $215K to the City of Ironwood for repairs.
Is Ironwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Ironwood’s rate for it is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ironwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ironwood’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.