McKinley School · Photo: kennethaw88 · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Vassar faces more hazard damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vassar gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 48 claims here since 1985.
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 stands out about Vassar’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Vassar 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
Strong wind
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 Vassar’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Vassar, and Vassar’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 5%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #700 of 701 in Michigan; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Vassar’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Michigan town has lower expected damage than 77% of U.S. towns; within the state, Vassar has more expected damage per building than 100% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Vassar: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Vassar flood? Sometimes: 48 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Vassar, from FEMA’s records: 41.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Vassar is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Tuscola County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Vassar
Disasters that paid out in Vassar itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Vassar), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2000Snow$2K to the City of Vassar for repairs
Tuscola County has had 9 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 Vassar after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Vassar archive →Vassar and its neighbors
Vassar is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vassar Township | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Tuscola Township | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Vassar | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 48 |
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 Vassar 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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.
- Vassar residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Vassar
Is Vassar at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Vassar has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and strong wind (5%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Vassar flood?
Flood insurance has paid 48 claims in Vassar since 1985, $628K in all, or 41.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Vassar 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 Tuscola County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Vassar?
Vassar is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Vassar?
By FEMA money that reached Vassar, Snow (2000): $2K to the City of Vassar for repairs.
Is Vassar at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Vassar’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Vassar.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Vassar’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.