Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Benzie County, MI

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
26019
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Approved, expires 2029-02-25. Plan: Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332), approved 2024-02-26.

Since the plan was approved on 2024-02-26: 1 new hazard declaration (1 incident): DR-4925-MI (Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding).

NOAA Storm Events records since that date: 13 records (data through 2026-06-30).

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($4,067,357 a year), Cold Wave ($2,511,921) and Winter Weather ($291,867).

Repetitive-loss flood properties now: FMA RL 0, SRL 0 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 0.

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Approved, expires 2029-02-25
Plan:
Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)
Approved:
2024-02-26
Days to expiry:
879

What changed since your last plan (approved 2024-02-26)

New federal declarations:
1 new hazard declaration (1 incident): DR-4925-MI (Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding)
Storm Events records since approval:
13 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 0, SRL 0 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 0
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county: 20 rows, in the section "Plan clock: Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county" on the following pages.

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Plan clock

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryNotes
Benzie CountyCountyApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879
Benzonia villageVillageApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-04-19
Beulah villageVillageApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-04-19
Elberta villageVillageApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-06-20
Frankfort cityCityApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-06-20
Honor villageVillageApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-08-08
Lake Ann villageVillageApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-06-20
Thompsonville villageVillageApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-04-19
Almira townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-08-08
Benzonia townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-08-08
Blaine townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2025-02-05
Colfax townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-12-18
Crystal Lake townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-04-19
Gilmore townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-08-08
Homestead townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-10-16
Inland townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-12-18
Joyfield townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-08-08
Lake townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-04-19
Platte townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-10-16
Weldon townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25Benzie County HMP Update (FEMA plan 109332)2024-02-262029-02-25879this jurisdiction approved 2024-06-20

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countStorm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingRelatively LowVery Low$4,067,227$22$109$4,067,3575
2Cold WaveRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$6$755,654$1,756,261$2,511,9213Includes 1 Frost/Freeze record (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition; counted in this table and in B1-d, not in the B1-e descriptor).
3Winter WeatherRelatively HighRelatively High$4,317$126$287,424$291,867112
4TornadoVery LowVery Low$111,686$46$61,505$173,2370Declared 1 time; no Storm Events record of this type.
5Strong WindRelatively LowRelatively Low$123,498$575$24,712$148,78537Includes 9 High Wind records (a NOAA non-thunderstorm wind type, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
6LightningRelatively LowRelatively Low$2,909n/a$90,895$93,8041
7Heat WaveVery LowVery Low$301under $1$38,566$38,8682
8HailVery LowVery Low$7,694$7,540$12,571$27,80416
9LandslideRelatively LowVery Low$447n/a$5,814$6,2620No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
10EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$3,941n/a$1,015$4,956Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
11WildfireVery LowVery Low$3,371$1$400$3,7720No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
12Coastal FloodingVery LowVery Low$2,687n/a$173$2,8600No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
13HurricaneVery LowVery Low$1,147$174under $1$1,3220No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
14Ice StormVery LowVery Low$1,217n/a$50$1,2674
15DroughtNo RatingNo Expected Annual Lossesn/a$0n/a$00Declared 1 time; no Storm Events record of this type.
TsunamiInsufficient DataInsufficient Datan/an/an/an/a0No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local landslide, wildfire and tsunami records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Coastal Flooding and Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 5 (Very Low, 7.1); tract 2 (Very Low, 6.3); tract 3 (Very Low, 5.5)
Hurricanetract 5 (Very Low, 26.5); tract 2 (Very Low, 25.8); tract 4 (Very Low, 25.3)
Landslidetract 2 (Relatively Low, 94.5); tract 5 (Relatively Low, 94.5); tract 3 (Relatively Low, 94.0)
Tornadotract 2 (Relatively Low, 39.7); tract 1.02 (Relatively Low, 38.9); tract 4 (Relatively Low, 38.6)
Tsunamino tract has a National Risk Index rating for this hazard
Wildfiretract 1.02 (Very Low, 67.8); tract 1.01 (Very Low, 65.0); tract 2 (Very Low, 64.3)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 5 is Census Tract 5). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Coastal Flood, Storm Surge/Tidenone in data (flood depth: FIRM)0Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill2 records, 2007 to 2026 (2 zone-level)2 days to 3 days (median 2.5 days); 2 with a recorded value3 consecutive days, 2026-01-22 to 2026-01-24, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Wind chill: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage1 record, 2012 (1 zone-level)Frost/Freeze, 2012-04-27, $15,000,000 crop damage (2012 dollars); NWS zone MIZ025Countywide (zone-level records).Temperature: in event narratives only (local data needed).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)0Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)20 records, 1955 to 20240.75 in to 3.25 in (median 0.81 in); 20 with a recorded value3.25 in hail, 2006-10-03Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Lake Ann village (5 records), Benzonia township (3 records), Benzonia village (3 records), Honor village (3 records), Frankfort city (2 records), Beulah village (1 record), Elberta village (1 record), Thompsonville village (1 record).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)2 records, 2001 to 2018 (2 zone-level)1 day to 9 days (median 5 days); 2 with a recorded value9 consecutive days, 2001-08-01 to 2001-08-09, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Heat index: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson0Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)4 records, 2001 to 2008 (4 zone-level)No damage reported in 4 records.Countywide (zone-level records).Ice thickness: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)5 records, 2000 to 2020 (4 zone-level)Lakeshore Flood, 2019-10-22, $129,000 property; $0 crops (2019 dollars); NWS zone MIZ025No event record names a jurisdiction in the plan. Zone-level records (4) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0Physical measure: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)1 record, 2000No damage or casualties reported in 1 record.No event record names a jurisdiction in the plan.Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties; physical measure in event narratives only (local data needed).
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)9 records, 1998 to 2025 (9 zone-level)50 kt (58 mph) to 78 kt (90 mph) (median 52 kt (60 mph)); 9 with a recorded value78 kt (90 mph), measurement type not recorded, High Wind, 1998-11-10; NWS zone MIZ025High Wind, 2021-12-16, $20,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2021 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)36 records, 1975 to 202550 kt (58 mph) to 61 kt (70 mph) (median 52 kt (60 mph)); 30 with a recorded value61 kt (70 mph) measured gust, Thunderstorm Wind, 2003-08-28Thunderstorm Wind, 2006-07-17, $60,000 property; crops not reported (2006 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Frankfort city (10 records), Lake Ann village (6 records), Thompsonville village (2 records), Benzonia township (1 record), Benzonia village (1 record), Beulah village (1 record), Homestead township (1 record), Honor village (1 record), Joyfield township (1 record).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)4 records, 1956 to 1989F/EF1 to F/EF4 (median F/EF1); 4 with a recorded valueF4 tornado, 1956-04-03, 19.4 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 400 yd wide, $250,000 property; crops not recorded (1956 dollars), 2 direct deaths, 24 direct injuriesNo event record names a jurisdiction in the plan.Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Tsunaminone (count and damage only)0Physical measure: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0Acres burned: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)112 records, 1996 to 2026 (112 zone-level)Heavy Snow, 2012-03-02, $600,000 property; $2,000,000 crops (2012 dollars); NWS zone MIZ025Countywide (zone-level records).Snow depth: in event narratives only (local data needed).

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records whose zone no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 6 declarations covering 3 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2026-06-302026-04-10DR-4925-MIMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Tornado$161,212.71new since last plan; within last 5 years
2020-03-272020-01-20DR-4494-MIMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not counted$10,567.17
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3455-MIEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4494
2005-09-072005-08-29EM-3225-MIEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
1978-01-271978-01-27EM-3057-MIEmergencyBlizzards & SnowstormsWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1977-03-021977-03-02EM-3035-MIEmergencyDroughtDroughtno Public Assistance recorded

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1956-04-051956-04-05DR-53-MIMajor disasterTornadoTornado
1953-06-091953-06-09DR-6-MIMajor disasterTornadoTornado
1953-06-021953-06-02DR-4-MIMajor disasterTornadoTornado

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Coastal Flooding0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Cold Wave3101001996 to 2026-06-30Includes 1 Frost/Freeze record.
Drought0000101996 to 2026-06-30No Storm Events records of this type; 1 federal declared incident (see declarations table)
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail20101001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave2000001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Ice Storm4000001996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding5000111996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning1000001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind45315001955 to 2026-06-30Includes 9 High Wind records.
Tornado4000111950 to 2026-06-30
Tsunami0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Wildfire0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather1128215101996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2026-01-22Extreme Cold/Wind Chilldamage not reported0, 0NWS zone MIZ025 (BENZIE), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2021-12-16High Wind52 kt (60 mph) measured gust$20,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2021 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MIZ025 (BENZIE), zone-levelwithin last 5 yearsB1-c most damaging: High Wind and Strong Wind
2019-10-22Lakeshore Flood$129,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2019 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MIZ025 (BENZIE), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2012-04-27Frost/Freeze$0 property; $15,000,000 crops, reported for the zone (2012 dollars) (as recorded; larger than this county's annual agriculture value in the National Risk Index (the county or state extension service keeps crop loss records))0, 0NWS zone MIZ025 (BENZIE), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Frost/Freeze
2012-03-02Heavy Snow$600,000 property; $2,000,000 crops, reported for the zone (2012 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MIZ025 (BENZIE), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
2006-10-03Hail3.25 in$0 property; $0 crops (2006 dollars)0, 0BENZONIAB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2006-07-17Thunderstorm Wind60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust$60,000 property; crops not reported (2006 dollars)0, 0LAKE ANNB1-c most damaging: Thunderstorm Wind
2003-08-28Thunderstorm Wind61 kt (70 mph) measured gust$15,000 property; crops not reported (2003 dollars)0, 0FRANKFORTB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
2001-08-01Heatdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone MIZ025 (BENZIE), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
1998-11-10High Wind78 kt (90 mph), measurement type not recordeddamage not reported0, 0NWS zone MIZ025 (BENZIE), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
1987-07-20Thunderstorm Windspeed not recordeddamage not recorded (pre-1996 record)0, 6location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded
1956-04-03TornadoF4, 19.4 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 400 yd wide$250,000 property; crops not recorded (1956 dollars)2, 24location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (196 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Coastal Flooding0.0136events per year at a location (modeled)about 0.014 per year at a given location in the countyStorm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Cold Wave0.842event-days per yearabout 0.842 days per yearPossible (from Storm Events: 1 of 30 years)event-days in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)162005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought0event-days per yearnone modeledevent-days in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)02000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywideNo Storm Events drought record, 1996 to 2025
Earthquake0.00033annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.033%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail0.691events per yearabout 0.69 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)27.0 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave0.737event-days per yearabout 0.737 days per yearPossible (from Storm Events: 2 of 30 years)event-days in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)122005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0.01events per yearabout 1 in 100 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)01851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are in B1-d.
Ice Storm0.0579event-days per yearabout 0.0579 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 4 of 30 years)event-days in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)21946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding0.179event-days per yearabout 0.179 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 3 of 30 years)event-days in 3 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (10%)51996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.144events per year (modeled)about 1 in 7 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning24.9days per year with a strikeabout 24.9 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind0.821events per yearabout 0.82 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)141986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.0805events per yearabout 1 in 12 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Tsunamiannual probability at the most exposed location (used in place of a county value)Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Wildfire0.0000303annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.00303%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Winter Weather29.6event-days per yearabout 29.6 days per yearHighly likely (from Storm Events: 28 of 30 years)event-days in 28 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (93.3%)5622005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 20255300.167
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20251300.0333
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 202528300.933
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20250300
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20250300
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20250300
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20250300
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Coastal Flooding4 of 673.076.280.3Relatively Low 2, Very Low 2, No Rating 2
Cold Wave6 of 686.994.697.8Very High 1, Relatively High 5
Drought0 of 6No Rating 6
Earthquake6 of 63.75.47.1Very Low 6
Hail6 of 635.643.852.0Relatively Low 5, Very Low 1
Heat Wave6 of 65.28.910.8Very Low 6
Hurricane6 of 623.924.726.5Very Low 6
Ice Storm6 of 61.72.36.4Very Low 6
Inland Flooding6 of 647.063.374.4Relatively Moderate 5, Relatively Low 1
Landslide6 of 685.892.894.5Relatively Low 6
Lightning6 of 646.663.168.7Relatively Moderate 5, Relatively Low 1
Strong Wind6 of 658.065.966.6Relatively Moderate 6
Tornado6 of 634.938.539.7Relatively Low 6
Tsunami0 of 6Insufficient Data 6
Wildfire6 of 657.262.567.8Very Low 6
Winter Weather6 of 696.598.598.9Very High 6

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are.

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its planNotes
Benzie CountyCountyApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$10,567.170 total; 0 since its planIncludes $10,567.17 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4494-MI).
Benzonia villageVillageApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded4 total; 0 since its plan
Beulah villageVillageApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$155,353.712 total; 0 since its plan
Elberta villageVillageApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded1 total; 0 since its plan
Frankfort cityCityApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded12 total; 1 since its plan
Honor villageVillageApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded4 total; 0 since its plan
Lake Ann villageVillageApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded11 total; 0 since its plan
Thompsonville villageVillageApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded3 total; 1 since its plan
Almira townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its plan
Benzonia townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$5,8594 total; 0 since its plan
Blaine townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its plan
Colfax townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its plan
Crystal Lake townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its plan
Gilmore townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its plan
Homestead townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded1 total; 0 since its plan
Inland townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its plan
Joyfield townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded1 total; 0 since its plan
Lake townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its plan
Platte townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its plan
Weldon townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2029-02-25FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2024-02-26county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Coastal Flooding$583,126,064n/a140$2,687n/a$1730.000461%
Cold Wave$5,287,389,834$12,911,51617,953$6$755,654$1,756,261under 0.0001%
Droughtn/a$0n/an/a$0n/aagriculture exposure is 0 in NRI
Earthquake$8,685,012,970n/a17,970$3,941n/a$1,015under 0.0001%
Hail$5,287,389,834$12,911,51617,953$7,694$7,540$12,5710.000146%
Heat Wave$5,287,389,834$12,911,51617,953$301under $1$38,566under 0.0001%
Hurricane$5,287,389,834$12,911,51617,953$1,147$174under $1under 0.0001%
Ice Storm$5,287,389,834n/a17,953$1,217n/a$50under 0.0001%
Inland Flooding$5,268,095,075$8,902138$4,067,227$22$109n/a (see note)$161,212.71NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$250,696,398n/a737$447n/a$5,8140.000178%
Lightning$5,287,389,834n/a17,953$2,909n/a$90,895under 0.0001%
Strong Wind$5,287,389,834$12,911,51617,953$123,498$575$24,7120.00234%
Tornado$5,287,389,834$12,911,51617,953$111,686$46$61,5050.00211%$161,212.71
Tsunamin/an/an/an/an/an/aNRI publishes no building exposure for this county
Wildfire$1,558,765,470$3,666,7836,147$3,371$1$4000.000216%
Winter Weather$5,287,389,834$12,911,51617,953$4,317$126$287,424under 0.0001%

Totals since 2024-02-26 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 3 county-coded records, 0 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0; 10 zone-level records, 0 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: $161,212.71 on 1 counted declaration.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population17,953
Building value (total, not at risk)$5,287,389,834
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$12,911,516
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Very Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$5,094,586
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$2,279,495
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively Moderate
Community resilience ratingVery High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total0000000
Statewide, no county in FEMA's file0040400

The statewide row counts properties FEMA's file gives with no county in this state; they are listed for reference and are not in this county's counts.

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Benzie County2606450000000
Benzonia village2619230000000
Beulah village2619240000000
Elberta village2605530000000
Frankfort city2600290000000
Honor village2619270000000
Lake Ann village2619300000000
Thompsonville village2619320000000
Almira township2619210000000
Benzonia township2619220000000
Blaine township2600270000000
Colfax township2619250000000
Crystal Lake township2600280000000
Gilmore township2619200000000
Homestead township2619260000000
Inland township2619280000000
Joyfield township2619290000000
Lake township2600300000000
Platte township2619310000000
Weldon township2619330000000

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group: 0 in every occupancy group.

Sources: 1, 4

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 0 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment, organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B. Each section heading names the item its tables support; the plan and FEMA's review decide whether the item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Benzie County, MI: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 26019). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/mi/26019/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: contact@hazardplain.org

Hazard Plain release 2026-10. As of 2026-09-30; Storm Events data through 2026-06-30. Automated baseline.