Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Ishpeming Township than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ishpeming Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #95 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%), then hail (36%). 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 Ishpeming 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 Ishpeming Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ishpeming Township, and Ishpeming Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 36%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
A #95 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ishpeming Township’s residents live in 6 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, Ishpeming Township has less expected damage per building than 87% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Ishpeming Township: $496K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ishpeming Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Ishpeming Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Ishpeming 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: Marquette County.The storms Ishpeming Township remembers
None of the 7 disasters declared for Marquette County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Ishpeming Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Marquette County has had 7 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Marquette County, 1999–1999.
Ishpeming Township and its neighbors
Ishpeming Township is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Ishpeming Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Negaunee | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Negaunee Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Ishpeming | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Tilden Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Ely Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Powell Township | — | 885 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Champion Township | — | 154 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| West Ishpeming | — | 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 Ishpeming 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 Ishpeming Township
Is Ishpeming Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ishpeming Township has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #95 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%) and hail (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Ishpeming 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 Marquette County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ishpeming Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ishpeming Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Ishpeming Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Ishpeming Township’s rate for it is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ishpeming Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ishpeming 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.