Elk Rapids Township Hall · Photo: rossograph · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Nelson Township faces less hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nelson Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #92 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then tornadoes (15%). 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 Nelson 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
Tornadoes
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 Nelson Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Nelson Township, and Nelson Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 15% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
A #92 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Nelson 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, Nelson Township has less expected damage per building than 87% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across Nelson Township: $696K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Nelson Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Nelson Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Nelson 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: Kent County.The storms Nelson Township remembers
None of the 10 disasters declared for Kent County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Nelson Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Kent County has had 10 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Nelson Township and its neighbors
Nelson Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Cedar Springs | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Pierson Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Spencer Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Courtland Township | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Nelson 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Nelson Township
Is Nelson Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nelson Township has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #92 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Nelson 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 Kent County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Nelson Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Nelson Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Nelson Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Nelson Township’s rate for it is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Nelson Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Nelson 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.