FEMA declarations
46
Low volume
State profile · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Michigan Natural Disasters
Michigan has one of the lighter federal disaster records in the country. 46 FEMA disaster declarations are on record, led by flood, with $2.2B in combined property and crop damage. A light count doesn't mean zero risk, just fewer events that crossed the federal declaration threshold. NOAA storm event data shows 9,052 recorded weather events resulting in 72 fatalities, figures the state uses to prioritize disaster-preparedness planning.
- 46
- FEMA declarations
- 9,052
- NOAA storm events
- 72
- Storm fatalities
- $2.2B
- Property + crop damage
The Michigan risk picture
3 of the 83 counties FEMA scores, 4%, carry a FEMA "high-risk" National Risk Index rating, with riverine flooding the single largest driver of expected annual loss statewide. Michigan has 35 Major Disaster (DR) declarations; FEMA authorizes Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, or both separately for each declaration. NOAA-tracked storms have caused 187 injuries statewide.
- 4%
- of counties rated high-risk by FEMA National Risk Index
- 46
- FEMA disaster declarations on record
- $2.2B
- in tracked property + crop damage
- 14,776
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed statewide
FEMA's National Risk Index and NOAA's Storm Events Database measure different things: modeled long-run risk vs. observed severe-weather events. Storm Events is a reported dataset, so its counts track what was observed and logged, not every event that occurred, and reporting is denser where more people live. See the methodology for how they relate.
Major Disaster share
76%
Mostly major
NOAA storm events
9,052
Observed severe-weather records
How does Michigan compare?
Michigan vs. every U.S. state
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time
46 22nd percentile higher than 22% of 59 states and territories
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states and territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-25
Michigan county risk-score spread
FEMA National Risk Index composite scores, 0–100
49.6 48th percentile higher than 48% of 83 county composite scores
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more county composite scores. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA National Risk Index (NRI), county composite scores · 2026-08-25
The declaration chart counts past federal actions. The county score chart summarizes FEMA's modeled National Risk Index composite; it is not a forecast, and a state average does not describe every county.
Do more storms mean more federal disasters?
Michigan sits at the 16th percentile of FEMA declaration volume and the 36th percentile of NOAA storm-event volume among 55 states and territories, those two ranks are not interchangeable.
FEMA declaration rank vs NOAA storm-event rank
Read the chart, every state as text
Percentiles are within this release's state/territory sample. Raw counts are the underlying FEMA and NOAA totals.
| State | FEMA decls | FEMA %ile | NOAA storms | NOAA %ile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 396 | 98 | 23,694 | 93 |
| Texas | 389 | 96 | 53,309 | 98 |
| Oklahoma | 258 | 95 | 23,896 | 95 |
| Washington | 215 | 93 | 4,408 | 22 |
| Florida | 188 | 91 | 12,838 | 55 |
| Oregon | 169 | 89 | 3,695 | 20 |
| New Mexico | 126 | 87 | 10,974 | 45 |
| Arizona | 120 | 85 | 9,541 | 38 |
| New York | 118 | 84 | 21,653 | 82 |
| Montana | 112 | 82 | 13,576 | 56 |
| Colorado | 111 | 78 | 18,340 | 73 |
| Louisiana | 111 | 78 | 11,204 | 47 |
| Nevada | 110 | 76 | 4,534 | 24 |
| Alabama | 102 | 75 | 14,583 | 64 |
| Kentucky | 98 | 71 | 19,947 | 78 |
| Mississippi | 98 | 71 | 14,100 | 62 |
| Tennessee | 97 | 69 | 16,645 | 69 |
| South Dakota | 96 | 67 | 22,759 | 87 |
| Alaska | 94 | 64 | 2,683 | 15 |
| Kansas | 94 | 64 | 25,115 | 96 |
| Arkansas | 87 | 60 | 13,637 | 58 |
| Nebraska | 87 | 60 | 20,136 | 80 |
| Missouri | 86 | 58 | 22,952 | 89 |
| North Carolina | 85 | 56 | 16,367 | 67 |
| West Virginia | 84 | 55 | 12,026 | 49 |
| Georgia | 81 | 51 | 16,676 | 71 |
| Minnesota | 81 | 51 | 19,109 | 75 |
| Iowa | 78 | 49 | 21,883 | 84 |
| Virginia | 77 | 47 | 23,584 | 91 |
| North Dakota | 75 | 45 | 10,818 | 44 |
| Hawaii | 72 | 44 | 6,200 | 31 |
| Maine | 71 | 42 | 4,781 | 27 |
| Illinois | 68 | 40 | 22,088 | 85 |
| Pennsylvania | 64 | 38 | 19,427 | 76 |
| New Hampshire | 63 | 36 | 2,547 | 11 |
| Vermont | 62 | 35 | 3,449 | 18 |
| Idaho | 60 | 31 | 5,142 | 29 |
| Ohio | 60 | 31 | 16,184 | 65 |
| Massachusetts | 59 | 25 | 6,781 | 33 |
| New Jersey | 59 | 25 | 8,218 | 35 |
| Utah | 59 | 25 | 4,578 | 25 |
| Wisconsin | 56 | 24 | 13,807 | 60 |
| Indiana | 54 | 22 | 12,687 | 53 |
| Puerto Rico | 51 | 18 | 2,944 | 16 |
| South Carolina | 51 | 18 | 10,520 | 42 |
| Michigan | 46 | 16 | 9,052 | 36 |
| Wyoming | 45 | 15 | 12,494 | 51 |
| Connecticut | 43 | 13 | 2,622 | 13 |
| Maryland | 38 | 11 | 10,290 | 40 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 33 | 9 | 88 | 0 |
| Rhode Island | 31 | 7 | 924 | 7 |
| Delaware | 26 | 5 | 1,475 | 9 |
| Guam | 25 | 4 | 258 | 2 |
| District of Columbia | 24 | 2 | 452 | 5 |
| American Samoa | 17 | 0 | 292 | 4 |
What shapes Michigan's record?
FEMA declaration types in Michigan
Wider bars = more declarations of that incident type
- Flood
Flood
14 declarations
- Severe Storm
Severe Storm
10 declarations
- Tornado
Tornado
6 declarations
- Snowstorm 5
Snowstorm
5 declarations
- Biological 2
Biological
2 declarations
- Dam/Levee Break 2
Dam/Levee Break
2 declarations
- Hurricane 1
Hurricane
1 declarations
- Drought 1
Drought
1 declarations
What this shows Flood leads Michigan's FEMA declaration mix with 14 records among the types shown.
NOAA storm events by year in Michigan
Reported severe-weather events, 2015-2025 catalog window
Peak year in this series: 2019 (1,067 events). Counts are reported events, not a complete census.
63 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Michigan · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite mixing OpenFEMA declaration totals (1953–present) with NOAA Storm Events (2015–2025), different windows and event definitions, disclosed weights on the methodology page . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) Moderate
8/30
46 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (0.5x state average)
NOAA Storm Events (2015–2025) Moderate
10/25
9052 NOAA storm events in the 2015–2025 extract (0.8x median state)
NOAA Damage (2015–2025) Very High
25/25
Recorded NOAA property+crop damage in the 2015–2025 extract (3.9x median state)
Hazard Diversity Very High
20/20
13 different disaster types declared in Michigan
What does Michigan's hazard record show?
FEMA disaster declarations
Michigan (MI) has a low level of federal declaration activity, with 46 FEMA declaration records, including 35 Major Disaster declarations (DR). A DR may authorize Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, or both; those program approvals are not implied by the DR count. The dominant declaration type is Flood, followed by Severe Storm (10), Tornado (6), Snowstorm (5). Declaration counts at the state level reflect the cumulative federal footprint: large multi-county events count once per state, but repeat hazard patterns across decades are visible in the breakdown below.
Flood exposure & where to dig deeper
Flood exposure is quantified separately through the National Flood Insurance Program. Policyholders across 76Michigan counties have filed 14,776 NFIP claims totaling $148.7M, or an average of $10.1K per claim. NFIP data captures only insured flood losses, so uninsured flood damage and storm-surge losses outside mapped high-risk zones remain invisible in this figure. The highest-Expected-Annual-Loss hazard across the state is Riverine Flooding, estimated at $1.5B annually. Drill into individual counties for localized risk, read FEMA's hazard-specific briefings, and review insurance and flood-zone designations, state-level averages can mask sharp county-to-county differences in exposure and resilience.
NOAA storm events & FEMA National Risk Index
NOAA's Storm Events Database adds the near-term severe-weather lens. Between 2015 and 2025, Michigan recorded 9,052 individual storm events, causing 72 fatalities and 187 injuries, with combined property and crop damage estimated at $2.2B. The most frequent event types in the state are Thunderstorm Wind (3,010 events), Winter Storm (1,486 events), Winter Weather (1,254 events). Across the 83counties FEMA scores here, its National Risk Index flags 3 as high-risk, with an average county Risk Index score (FEMA's own formula, distinct from our Historical Activity tool below) of 49.6/100.
What this count is, and is not. Storm Events is a reported database: NOAA compiles it from National Weather Service offices, trained spotters, law enforcement, and the public. It is a record of what was observed and logged, not a complete census of severe weather. Densely populated areas report more events than sparsely populated ones with similar meteorological exposure, and detection has improved over time, so an event count is not a like-for-like measure of hazard between places or across decades. Damage figures are field estimates, not audited losses. See methodology.
Disaster Types in Michigan
Share of this state's FEMA declarations; the bar chart above is the same mix as counts.
Flood
30.4%
14 declarations
Severe Storm
21.7%
10 declarations
Tornado
13.0%
6 declarations
Snowstorm
10.9%
5 declarations
Biological
4.3%
2 declarations
Dam/Levee Break
4.3%
2 declarations
Hurricane
2.2%
1 declarations
Drought
2.2%
1 declarations
Other
2.2%
1 declarations
Severe Ice Storm
2.2%
1 declarations
Freezing
2.2%
1 declarations
Fire
2.2%
1 declarations
Toxic Substances
2.2%
1 declarations
Storm Events by Type
NOAA storm event data for Michigan (2015-2025).
| Event Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 3,010 | 10 | 18 | $173.8M |
| Winter Storm | 1,486 | 3 | 11 | $41.8M |
| Winter Weather | 1,254 | 21 | 38 | $892.0K |
| Hail | 962 | 0 | 0 | $77.1M |
| High Wind | 389 | 3 | 2 | $668.9M |
| Heavy Snow | 312 | 0 | 0 | $800.0K |
| Cold/Wind Chill | 251 | 8 | 0 | $0 |
| Flood | 181 | 0 | 0 | $230.1M |
| Tornado | 163 | 5 | 76 | $234.4M |
| Lake-Effect Snow | 154 | 0 | 0 | $15.0K |
| Blizzard | 128 | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| Lakeshore Flood | 120 | 2 | 0 | $13.6M |
| Ice Storm | 117 | 1 | 0 | $73.6M |
| Flash Flood | 117 | 1 | 1 | $679.4M |
| Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | 100 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Heat | 62 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Strong Wind | 53 | 0 | 0 | $196.5K |
| Excessive Heat | 51 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Heavy Rain | 41 | 1 | 4 | $68.0K |
| Lightning | 28 | 2 | 15 | $1.8M |
Storm Events by Year
| Year | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 816 | 2 | 15 | $17.9M |
| 2024 | 701 | 2 | 29 | $68.4M |
| 2023 | 792 | 12 | 10 | $323.3M |
| 2022 | 831 | 11 | 45 | $75.2M |
| 2021 | 964 | 3 | 19 | $185.8M |
| 2020 | 811 | 8 | 11 | $277.0M |
| 2019 | 1,067 | 6 | 13 | $203.2M |
| 2018 | 767 | 12 | 12 | $201.5M |
| 2017 | 628 | 13 | 18 | $721.0M |
| 2016 | 797 | 2 | 0 | $46.4M |
| 2015 | 878 | 1 | 15 | $79.9M |
FEMA Disaster Declarations
How the 46 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download all 46 declarations as CSV . Source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
46 unique disaster declarations in Michigan.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4925 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2026-06-30 |
| 4880 | SEVERE WINTER STORM | DR | Severe Ice Storm | 2025-07-22 |
| 4757 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2024-02-08 |
| 4607 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND TORNADOES | DR | Severe Storm | 2021-07-15 |
| 4547 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Dam/Levee Break | 2020-07-09 |
| 3525 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | EM | Dam/Levee Break | 2020-05-21 |
| 4494 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-03-27 |
| 3455 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 4381 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Flood | 2018-08-02 |
| 4326 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2017-08-02 |
| 3375 | CONTAMINATED WATER | EM | Toxic Substances | 2016-01-16 |
| 4195 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2014-09-25 |
| 4121 | FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2013-06-18 |
| 1777 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2008-07-14 |
| 3225 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-07 |
| 1527 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2004-06-30 |
| 3189 | POWER OUTAGE | EM | Other | 2003-09-23 |
| 1413 | FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2002-05-06 |
| 3160 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2001-01-10 |
| 1346 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2000-10-17 |
| 2261 | MI - TOWER LAKE MOUNTAIN FIRE - 05/06/1999 | FM | Fire | 1999-05-06 |
| 3137 | MI - SEVERE WEATHER 1/2 /99 | EM | Snowstorm | 1999-01-27 |
| 1237 | SEVERE STORMS AND HIGH WINDS | DR | Severe Storm | 1998-08-05 |
| 1226 | SEVERE STORMS | DR | Severe Storm | 1998-06-24 |
| 1181 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES,AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 1997-07-11 |
| 1128 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 1996-07-23 |
| 1028 | SEVERE DEEP FREEZE | DR | Freezing | 1994-05-10 |
| 774 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1986-09-18 |
| 744 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1985-09-18 |
| 654 | FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1982-03-29 |
| 631 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1980-09-08 |
| 621 | SEVERE STORMS & TORNADOES | DR | Tornado | 1980-05-16 |
| 3057 | BLIZZARDS & SNOWSTORMS | EM | Snowstorm | 1978-01-27 |
| 3035 | DROUGHT | EM | Drought | 1977-03-02 |
| 3030 | SNOWSTORMS | EM | Snowstorm | 1977-02-05 |
| 495 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, ICING & FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 1976-03-19 |
| 486 | SEVERE STORMS, HIGH WINDS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1975-09-30 |
| 465 | SEVERE STORMS, HIGH WINDS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1975-04-26 |
| 429 | TORNADOES | DR | Tornado | 1974-04-12 |
| 371 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1973-04-12 |
| 363 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1972-12-01 |
| 330 | SEVERE STORM & FREEZING | DR | Snowstorm | 1972-04-05 |
| 190 | TORNADOES & SEVERE STORMS | DR | Tornado | 1965-04-14 |
| 53 | TORNADO | DR | Tornado | 1956-04-05 |
| 6 | TORNADO | DR | Tornado | 1953-06-09 |
| 4 | TORNADO | DR | Tornado | 1953-06-02 |
FEMA National Risk Index
Composite natural hazard risk scores for Michigan counties based on FEMA's National Risk Index.
Avg County Risk Score
49.6/100
High Risk Counties
3
of 83 counties
Top Hazard by EAL
Riverine Flooding
$1.5B annual loss est.
Top 5 Hazards by Expected Annual Loss
#1
Riverine Flooding
$1.5B EAL
#2
Tornado
$473.6M EAL
#3
Cold Wave
$448.0M EAL
#4
Strong Wind
$163.6M EAL
#5
Heat Wave
$80.7M EAL
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) EAL = Expected Annual Loss. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
National Flood Insurance Program claims across Michigan from FEMA NFIP data.
Total Claims
14,776
Total Paid
$148.7M
Avg Per Claim
$10.1K
Counties With Claims
76
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
Counties in Michigan
83 counties with FEMA disaster data. Declaration counts measure past federal action; NRI rating is FEMA's modeled composite, so a high count is not a high rating.
| # | County | Disasters | NRI rating | Major |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macomb County | 18 | Relatively High | 12 |
| 2 | Saginaw County | 18 | Relatively Moderate | 14 |
| 3 | Allegan County | 17 | Relatively Low | 11 |
| 4 | Wayne County | 17 | Relatively High | 12 |
| 5 | Ionia County | 16 | Relatively Low | 10 |
| 6 | Ottawa County | 16 | Relatively Moderate | 10 |
| 7 | Oakland County | 15 | Relatively High | 9 |
| 8 | Bay County | 14 | Relatively Low | 10 |
| 9 | Osceola County | 14 | Very Low | 8 |
| 10 | Shiawassee County | 14 | Relatively Low | 9 |
| 11 | Barry County | 14 | Relatively Low | 8 |
| 12 | Midland County | 14 | Relatively Low | 9 |
| 13 | Muskegon County | 14 | Relatively Low | 9 |
| 14 | Genesee County | 14 | Relatively Moderate | 8 |
| 15 | Eaton County | 14 | Relatively Low | 8 |
| 16 | Kent County | 13 | Relatively Moderate | 8 |
| 17 | Oceana County | 13 | Very Low | 7 |
| 18 | Mecosta County | 13 | Relatively Low | 7 |
| 19 | Newaygo County | 13 | Relatively Low | 9 |
| 20 | Van Buren County | 13 | Relatively Low | 7 |
| 21 | Kalamazoo County | 12 | Relatively Moderate | 6 |
| 22 | Gratiot County | 12 | Relatively Low | 8 |
| 23 | Gladwin County | 12 | Very Low | 6 |
| 24 | Tuscola County | 12 | Relatively Low | 8 |
| 25 | Sanilac County | 12 | Relatively Low | 7 |
| 26 | Ingham County | 12 | Relatively Moderate | 7 |
| 27 | Washtenaw County | 12 | Relatively Moderate | 6 |
| 28 | Montcalm County | 12 | Relatively Low | 8 |
| 29 | Berrien County | 12 | Relatively Moderate | 7 |
| 30 | St. Clair County | 12 | Relatively Moderate | 7 |
| 31 | Monroe County | 11 | Relatively Moderate | 6 |
| 32 | Marquette County | 11 | Relatively Low | 5 |
| 33 | Arenac County | 11 | Very Low | 6 |
| 34 | Iosco County | 11 | Very Low | 6 |
| 35 | Isabella County | 11 | Relatively Low | 6 |
| 36 | Lapeer County | 11 | Relatively Low | 6 |
| 37 | Clinton County | 10 | Relatively Low | 6 |
| 38 | Jackson County | 10 | Relatively Low | 5 |
| 39 | Hillsdale County | 9 | Relatively Low | 3 |
| 40 | Clare County | 9 | Relatively Low | 4 |
| 41 | Calhoun County | 9 | Relatively Low | 4 |
| 42 | Cass County | 9 | Relatively Low | 3 |
| 43 | Lake County | 9 | Very Low | 5 |
| 44 | Crawford County | 9 | Very Low | 4 |
| 45 | Houghton County | 9 | Very Low | 5 |
| 46 | Mason County | 9 | Very Low | 5 |
| 47 | Alcona County | 9 | Very Low | 4 |
| 48 | Livingston County | 9 | Relatively Low | 4 |
| 49 | Gogebic County | 9 | Very Low | 5 |
| 50 | Cheboygan County | 8 | Relatively Low | 4 |
| 51 | St. Joseph County | 8 | Relatively Low | 3 |
| 52 | Ontonagon County | 8 | Very Low | 4 |
| 53 | Montmorency County | 8 | Very Low | 3 |
| 54 | Oscoda County | 8 | Very Low | 3 |
| 55 | Menominee County | 8 | Relatively Low | 4 |
| 56 | Charlevoix County | 8 | Very Low | 4 |
| 57 | Huron County | 8 | Relatively Low | 4 |
| 58 | Manistee County | 8 | Very Low | 4 |
| 59 | Ogemaw County | 7 | Very Low | 2 |
| 60 | Roscommon County | 7 | Relatively Low | 3 |
| 61 | Iron County | 7 | Relatively Low | 3 |
| 62 | Alpena County | 7 | Very Low | 3 |
| 63 | Kalkaska County | 7 | Very Low | 3 |
| 64 | Otsego County | 7 | Very Low | 2 |
| 65 | Wexford County | 7 | Very Low | 3 |
| 66 | Baraga County | 7 | Very Low | 3 |
| 67 | Missaukee County | 7 | Very Low | 3 |
| 68 | Mackinac County | 7 | Very Low | 3 |
| 69 | Antrim County | 7 | Very Low | 3 |
| 70 | Presque Isle County | 7 | Very Low | 3 |
| 71 | Chippewa County | 7 | Very Low | 2 |
| 72 | Emmet County | 7 | Very Low | 3 |
| 73 | Grand Traverse County | 6 | Relatively Low | 2 |
| 74 | Branch County | 6 | Relatively Low | 2 |
| 75 | Delta County | 6 | Relatively Low | 2 |
| 76 | Schoolcraft County | 6 | Very Low | 2 |
| 77 | Benzie County | 6 | Very Low | 2 |
| 78 | Lenawee County | 6 | Relatively Low | 2 |
| 79 | Dickinson County | 5 | Relatively Low | 1 |
| 80 | Luce County | 5 | Very Low | 1 |
| 81 | Keweenaw County | 5 | Very Low | 2 |
| 82 | Alger County | 5 | Very Low | 1 |
| 83 | Leelanau County | 5 | Relatively Low | 1 |
Highest-risk counties by FEMA National Risk Index
Declaration counts above measure past federal action; FEMA's NRI is a composite of Expected Annual Loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. By that separate measure the highest-risk counties in Michigan are Wayne (Relatively High), Oakland (Relatively High), Macomb (Relatively High), Kent (Relatively Moderate), Genesee (Relatively Moderate). Compare any county's recorded history with the Historical Activity tool.
All 83 counties in Michigan are listed above.
Compare beyond this profile
Nationwide states with similar NRI score & FEMA declaration volume
Two PlainHazard-derived comparison paths for Michigan: nearest states by average county National Risk Index composite and nearest FEMA declaration count (floor ≥5 records). Record similarity only, not a forecast of the next hazard.
Similar average NRI composite
Nearest states by mean county FEMA NRI score. Michigan: 49.6 across 83 scored counties.
Similar declaration volume
Nearest states by FEMA declaration count. Michigan: 46. NRI peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Disaster Preparedness Guides
Learn more about natural disaster risk, preparedness, and data interpretation.
Preparing for Natural Disasters
Essential steps to prepare your household for the most common natural hazards.
Hazard Risk by Region
How natural disaster risk varies across different US regions.
Climate Change & Disasters
How climate trends are changing the frequency and severity of natural disasters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What natural disasters affect Michigan?
Michigan is affected by flood, severe storm, tornado, snowstorm. The state's leading disaster type is Flood, based on 46 FEMA disaster declarations on record.
How many FEMA disaster declarations has Michigan had?
Michigan has received 46 FEMA disaster declarations, including 35 major disaster declarations. The declaration history covers several disaster types, including Flood (14), Severe Storm (10), Tornado (6).
What severe weather events are most common in Michigan?
The most common severe weather events in Michigan include thunderstorm wind (3,010 events), winter storm (1,486 events), winter weather (1,254 events). Between 2015 and 2025, NOAA recorded these events causing 72 fatalities and $2.2B in property and crop damage.
How active is Michigan's federal disaster declaration record?
Michigan has a low level of historical federal declaration activity, based on 46 FEMA declaration records. This band is not a future-risk forecast. Separately, NOAA storm events from 2015-2025 record 72 fatalities and 187 injuries. NOAA property and crop damage records total $2.2B.
How many flood insurance claims has Michigan had?
Michigan has 14,776 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims with $148.7M total paid out. Claims average $10.1K, with 76 counties reporting flood insurance claims.
Which counties in Michigan have the most disaster declarations?
Among 83 counties in Michigan, those with the most FEMA declaration records include Macomb (18 declarations), Saginaw (18 declarations), Allegan (17 declarations). Breaking the declarations down by county reveals patterns a statewide total can mask.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations, NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025) For informational purposes only
What this means for Michigan
Macomb alone accounts for 39% of Michigan's FEMA disaster declarations, out of 83 counties tracked statewide.
- The declaration record is uneven within the state: Macomb and Saginaw carry the most FEMA declarations. Browse counties
- See how Michigan ranks against other states for disaster frequency and damage. State rankings
- Learn what FEMA declarations, NRI risk scores, and damage figures do and don't tell you. Disaster-data guide
Historical declaration counts and damage totals describe past federal response, not a forecast. For current threats, follow the National Weather Service and local officials; in an emergency call 911.
PlainHazard derives this presentation from FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries. Its county comparison covers 3,266 U.S. counties and county equivalents in this database, refreshed as of 2026-08-25. Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with FEMA → · Verify with FEMA NRI → · Verify with NOAA →
Every figure on PlainHazard is rendered directly from FEMA federal disaster data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or national statistics report, the data & editorial changelog, or report a data error.