Lobb House · Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Munising than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Munising gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then hail (14%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim 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 Munising 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 Munising’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Munising, and Munising’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hail at 14% (higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts).
A lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Munising’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $785K a year in losses across Munising: $520K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Munising flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Munising, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Munising isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Alger County.The storms Munising remembers
None of the 2 disasters declared for Alger County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Munising itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19961 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Alger County has had 2 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.
Old photos of Munising after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Munising archive →Munising and its neighbors
Munising 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Munising | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Munising Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Au Train Township | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Grand Island Township | — | 23 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 Munising 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 Munising
Is Munising at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Munising has lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hail (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Munising flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Munising since 1996, $6K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Munising 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 Alger County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Munising?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Munising’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Munising at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Munising’s rate for it is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Munising.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Munising’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.