Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Otsego County, MI

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
26137
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: Expired on 2026-05-31. Plan: Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297), approved 2021-06-01.

Since the plan was approved on 2021-06-01: 1 new hazard declaration (1 incident): DR-4880-MI (Severe Winter Storm).

NOAA Storm Events records since that date: 55 records (data through 2026-06-30).

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($3,750,580 a year), Cold Wave ($1,650,751) and Hail ($671,386).

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:
Expired on 2026-05-31
Plan:
Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297)
Approved:
2021-06-01
Days since expiry:
122
Update underway:
none recorded in FEMA's plan tracker

Until a new plan is approved, FEMA mitigation project grants (HMGP, FMA) need a FEMA exception (44 CFR 201.6(a)(3)).

What changed since your last plan (approved 2021-06-01)

New federal declarations:
1 new hazard declaration (1 incident): DR-4880-MI (Severe Winter Storm)
Storm Events records since approval:
55 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

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryNotes
Otsego CountyCountyExpired on 2026-05-31Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297)2021-06-012026-05-31-122
Gaylord cityCityExpired on 2026-05-31Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297)2021-06-012026-05-31-122
Vanderbilt villageVillageExpired on 2026-05-31Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297)2021-06-012026-05-31-122this jurisdiction approved 2025-09-30
Bagley townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297)2021-06-012026-05-31-122this jurisdiction approved 2021-07-01
Charlton townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297)2021-06-012026-05-31-122
Chester townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297)2021-06-012026-05-31-122this jurisdiction approved 2025-11-18
Corwith townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297)2021-06-012026-05-31-122this jurisdiction approved 2025-09-30
Dover townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297)2021-06-012026-05-31-122this jurisdiction approved 2021-07-01
Elmira townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297)2021-06-012026-05-31-122this jurisdiction approved 2021-06-23
Hayes townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297)2021-06-012026-05-31-122this jurisdiction approved 2021-06-23
Livingston townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297)2021-06-012026-05-31-122this jurisdiction approved 2021-07-01
Otsego Lake townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31Otsego County HMP (FEMA plan 107297)2021-06-012026-05-31-122

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

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 FloodingVery LowVery Low$3,750,580$0under $1$3,750,5803
2Cold WaveRelatively LowRelatively Moderate$56$4,739$1,645,956$1,650,7517
3HailRelatively LowRelatively Moderate$485,802$3,200$182,385$671,38651
4Strong WindRelatively LowRelatively Low$163,612$348$330,327$494,28867Includes 10 High Wind records (a NOAA non-thunderstorm wind type, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
5TornadoRelatively LowRelatively Low$204,433$64$287,760$492,2573
6LightningRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$27,793n/a$408,872$436,6654
7Heat WaveVery LowVery Low$481under $1$53,210$53,6912
8WildfireVery LowVery Low$35,194$2$3,070$38,2660No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
9Winter WeatherVery LowVery Low$1,491$86$10,535$12,112146
10EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$8,725n/a$2,047$10,771Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
11Ice StormVery LowVery Low$4,471n/a$1,281$5,7525
12HurricaneVery LowVery Low$5,362$149$2$5,5130No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
13LandslideRelatively LowVery Low$284n/a$3,945$4,2290No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
14DroughtNo RatingNo Expected Annual Lossesn/a$0n/a$01

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 wildfire and landslide 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, coastal flooding, tsunami 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.

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 9503 (Very Low, 20.4); tract 9502 (Very Low, 9.1); tract 9501 (Very Low, 6.0)
Hurricanetract 9503 (Very Low, 37.7); tract 9502 (Very Low, 36.2); tract 9506 (Very Low, 33.7)
Landslidetract 9501 (Relatively Low, 94.5); tract 9502 (Relatively Low, 93.3); tract 9506 (Relatively Low, 91.8)
Tornadotract 9503 (Relatively Moderate, 61.5); tract 9506 (Relatively Moderate, 58.5); tract 9502 (Relatively Moderate, 58.0)
Wildfiretract 9506 (Relatively Low, 84.8); tract 9504 (Relatively Low, 83.7); tract 9502 (Relatively Low, 82.4)

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 9503 is Census Tract 9503). 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
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill7 records, 2007 to 2026 (7 zone-level)1 day to 3 days (median 2 days); 6 with a recorded value3 consecutive days, 2026-01-28 to 2026-01-30, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Wind chill: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage0Temperature: in event narratives only (local data needed).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)1 record, 2001 (1 zone-level)9 days; 1 with a recorded value9 days, 2001-08-01 to 2001-08-09, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Storm 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)57 records, 1993 to 20250.75 in to 2 in (median 0.88 in); 57 with a recorded value2 in hail, 2022-05-20; same size also recorded on 1993-04-24Hail, 2018-05-26, $5,000 property; $0 crops (2018 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Gaylord city (24 records), Elmira township (7 records), Vanderbilt village (5 records), Otsego Lake township (3 records).
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)5 records, 2001 to 2026 (5 zone-level)No damage reported in 5 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)3 records, 2003 to 2024Flood, 2024-07-29, $15,000 property; $0 crops (2024 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Elmira township (1 record), Gaylord city (1 record).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)4 records, 1998 to 2009Lightning, 2009-07-22, $500,000 property; $0 crops (2009 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Elmira township (2 records), Gaylord city (2 records).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)10 records, 1998 to 2025 (10 zone-level)50 kt (58 mph) to 60 kt (69 mph) (median 55 kt (63 mph)); 10 with a recorded value60 kt (69 mph) measured gust, High Wind, 2021-12-16; NWS zone MIZ022Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)82 records, 1963 to 202450 kt (58 mph) to 78 kt (90 mph) (median 50 kt (58 mph)); 60 with a recorded value78 kt (90 mph) estimated gust, Thunderstorm Wind, 2014-09-04Thunderstorm Wind, 2018-08-28, $1,200,000 property; $0 crops (2018 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Gaylord city (29 records), Elmira township (6 records), Otsego Lake township (6 records), Vanderbilt village (6 records).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)5 records, 1969 to 2022F/EF0 to F/EF3 (median F/EF2); 4 with a recorded valueEF3 tornado, 2022-05-20, 15.79 mi within this county, 200 yd wide, $50,000,000 property; $0 crops (2022 dollars), 2 direct deaths, 44 direct injuriesEvent records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Elmira township (1 record).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).
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)146 records, 1996 to 2026 (146 zone-level)Heavy Snow, 2012-03-02, $215,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars); NWS zone MIZ022Countywide (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: 7 declarations covering 4 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
2025-07-222025-03-28DR-4880-MIMajor disasterSevere Winter StormIce Storm (primary); also designated: Winter Weather$3,447,594.16new since last plan; within last 5 years
2020-03-272020-01-20DR-4494-MIMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recorded
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
1999-01-271999-01-02EM-3137-MIEmergencyMi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99Winter Weather$23,771.44
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.

Public Assistance filed under this county for declarations that do not list it: 2 rows, $7,803.39

Sources: 2, 3

FEMA numberDeclaredTitleApplicantPA obligatedfederal share obligated, nominal dollars
DR-1777-MI2008-07-14Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingOtsego County$4,438.14
EM-3160-MI2001-01-10SnowOtsego County$3,365.25

FEMA's Public Assistance summaries file these applicants under this county, but FEMA's declaration rows for these disasters do not designate it (an electric cooperative or district serving several counties, for example). Not in any declaration row above and not counted.

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
Cold Wave7404001996 to 2026-06-30
Drought1000101996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail5711011001955 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 Storm5202111996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding3202001996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning4000001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind921549001955 to 2026-06-30Includes 10 High Wind records.
Tornado5101001950 to 2026-06-30
Wildfire0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather14620120311996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2026-01-28Cold/Wind Chilldamage not reported0, 0NWS zone MIZ022 (OTSEGO), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2024-07-29Flood$15,000 property; $0 crops (2024 dollars)0, 0ELMIRAnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2022-05-20Hail2 in$0 property; $0 crops (2022 dollars)0, 0ELMIRAnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2022-05-20TornadoEF3, 15.79 mi within this county, 200 yd wide$50,000,000 property; $0 crops (2022 dollars)2, 44ELMIRA to SPARRnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsdeaths or injuries recorded
2021-12-16High Wind60 kt (69 mph) measured gust$30,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2021 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MIZ022 (OTSEGO), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2018-08-28Thunderstorm Wind70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust$1,200,000 property; $0 crops (2018 dollars)0, 1GAYLORD OTSEGO ARPT to GAYLORDdeaths or injuries recorded
2018-05-26Hail1.25 in$5,000 property; $0 crops (2018 dollars)0, 0OTSEGO LAKE to WATERSB1-c most damaging: Hail
2014-09-04Thunderstorm Wind78 kt (90 mph) estimated gust$295,000 property; $0 crops (2014 dollars)0, 0OTSEGO LAKE to ARBUTUS BEACHB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
2012-03-02Heavy Snow$215,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2012 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MIZ022 (OTSEGO), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
2009-07-22Lightning$500,000 property; $0 crops (2009 dollars)0, 0GAYLORDB1-c worst recorded: Lightning
2001-08-01Heatdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone MIZ022 (OTSEGO), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2001-08-01Droughtdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone MIZ022 (OTSEGO), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Drought

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (322 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
Cold Wave1.74event-days per yearabout 1.74 days per yearPossible (from Storm Events: 2 of 30 years)event-days in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)332005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought0event-days per yearnone modeledPossible (from Storm Events: 1 of 30 years)event-days in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)02000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywideNRI models no drought event-days here (2000 to 2025, 25.25 years; D3 and D4 only); Storm Events has a record in 1 of 30 years. The descriptor comes from Storm Events, which counts D2 drought that NRI leaves out.
Earthquake0.000299annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.0299%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail0.983events per yearabout 0.98 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)37.5 (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 Storm0.0744event-days per yearabout 0.0744 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 4 of 30 years)event-days in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)51946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding0.0357event-days per yearabout 0.0357 days per yearPossible (from Storm Events: 2 of 30 years)event-days in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)11996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.152events per year (modeled)about 1 in 7 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning24.7days per year with a strikeabout 24.7 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind0.873events per yearabout 0.87 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)341986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.0794events per yearabout 1 in 13 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.000263annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.0263%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 Weather32.6event-days per yearabout 32.6 days per yearHighly likely (from Storm Events: 30 of 30 years)event-days in 30 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (100%)6192005-11-12 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.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

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 202521300.7
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20251300.0333
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 202554301.8
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20253300.1
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20250300
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20252300.0667
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20251300.0333
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
Cold Wave6 of 675.788.593.1Relatively High 5, Relatively Moderate 1
Drought0 of 6No Rating 6
Earthquake6 of 64.25.820.4Very Low 6
Hail6 of 685.292.794.9Relatively High 5, Relatively Moderate 1
Heat Wave6 of 65.611.718.0Relatively Low 1, Very Low 5
Hurricane6 of 628.633.437.7Very Low 6
Ice Storm6 of 64.911.521.7Very Low 6
Inland Flooding6 of 627.655.473.8Relatively Moderate 3, Relatively Low 3
Landslide6 of 651.189.794.5Relatively Low 5, Very Low 1
Lightning6 of 686.196.498.5Very High 4, Relatively High 2
Strong Wind6 of 677.390.092.0Relatively High 5, Relatively Moderate 1
Tornado6 of 643.957.561.5Relatively Moderate 4, Relatively Low 2
Wildfire6 of 673.980.784.8Relatively Low 6
Winter Weather6 of 632.544.553.3Relatively Moderate 2, Relatively Low 4

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
Otsego CountyCountyExpired on 2026-05-31$2,925,852.310 total; 0 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Gaylord cityCityExpired on 2026-05-31$404,830.6556 total; 6 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Vanderbilt villageVillageExpired on 2026-05-31$72,142.3411 total; 1 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Bagley townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Charlton townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Chester townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Corwith townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Dover townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Elmira townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31no Public Assistance recorded17 total; 4 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Hayes townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Livingston townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Otsego Lake townshipTownshipExpired on 2026-05-31$54,340.109 total; 3 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

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 2021-06-01county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Cold Wave$8,444,864,477$8,027,20025,061$56$4,739$1,645,956under 0.0001%
Droughtn/a$0n/an/a$0n/aagriculture exposure is 0 in NRI
Earthquake$14,636,888,525n/a25,091$8,725n/a$2,047under 0.0001%
Hail$8,444,864,477$8,027,20025,061$485,802$3,200$182,3850.00575%$0
Heat Wave$8,444,864,477$8,027,20025,061$481under $1$53,210under 0.0001%
Hurricane$8,444,864,477$8,027,20025,061$5,362$149$2under 0.0001%
Ice Storm$8,443,992,476n/a25,060$4,471n/a$1,281under 0.0001%$3,447,594.16
Inland Flooding$8,442,611,677$0under 1$3,750,580$0under $1n/a (see note)$15,500NRI 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$118,409,686n/a347$284n/a$3,9450.00024%
Lightning$8,444,864,477n/a25,061$27,793n/a$408,8720.000329%
Strong Wind$8,444,864,477$8,027,20025,061$163,612$348$330,3270.00194%$23,000$30,000Storm Events damage since the plan includes 1 zone-level High Wind record ($30,000): a NOAA non-thunderstorm wind type, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition.
Tornado$8,444,864,477$8,027,20025,061$204,433$64$287,7600.00242%$50,000,000
Wildfire$1,187,210,411$1,699,7555,638$35,194$2$3,0700.00296%
Winter Weather$8,444,864,477$8,027,20025,061$1,491$86$10,535under 0.0001%$0$3,447,594.16

Totals since 2021-06-01 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 27 county-coded records, 26 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $50,038,500; 28 zone-level records, 12 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $30,000 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: $3,447,594.16 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
Population25,061
Building value (total, not at risk)$8,444,864,477
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$8,027,200
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Very Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$4,696,872
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)$2,929,388
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively Low
Community resilience ratingRelatively 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.

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). Otsego County, MI: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 26137). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/mi/26137/ 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.