Michigan natural disaster risk
Michigan ranks #27 of 51 from the lowest population-weighted county-score mean in our state comparison. Its highest hazard-score means are strong wind, cold wave, tornado.
RelocateMath computes these state means by weighting FEMA county scores by population. A mean of county percentiles is not a national state percentile or an official FEMA state rating.
The vertical line marks county-score scale midpoint (50).
Find your county's risk in Michigan
All 83 county rows with a FEMA score are available below, initially ordered by population.
| County | Population | Risk score | FEMA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | 1,772,259 | 99.0 | Relatively High |
| Oakland County | 1,279,825 | 97.5 | Relatively High |
| Macomb County | 879,853 | 96.7 | Relatively High |
| Kent County | 663,150 | 92.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Genesee County | 403,305 | 92.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Washtenaw County | 369,822 | 89.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ottawa County | 301,203 | 82.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ingham County | 283,913 | 87.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Kalamazoo County | 262,375 | 81.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Livingston County | 195,833 | 73.5 | Relatively Low |
| Saginaw County | 188,665 | 88.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Muskegon County | 175,961 | 70.1 | Relatively Low |
| St. Clair County | 160,221 | 82.0 | Relatively Moderate |
| Jackson County | 160,060 | 76.5 | Relatively Low |
| Monroe County | 155,505 | 82.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Berrien County | 153,288 | 81.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Calhoun County | 133,778 | 74.5 | Relatively Low |
| Allegan County | 121,456 | 68.5 | Relatively Low |
| Eaton County | 109,130 | 67.6 | Relatively Low |
| Bay County | 103,008 | 78.2 | Relatively Low |
| Lenawee County | 98,415 | 69.9 | Relatively Low |
| Grand Traverse County | 96,166 | 65.6 | Relatively Low |
| Lapeer County | 88,837 | 66.4 | Relatively Low |
| Midland County | 83,757 | 71.9 | Relatively Low |
| Clinton County | 79,626 | 47.0 | Relatively Low |
| Van Buren County | 75,795 | 60.5 | Relatively Low |
| Shiawassee County | 67,991 | 62.2 | Relatively Low |
| Montcalm County | 67,816 | 56.9 | Relatively Low |
| Marquette County | 67,112 | 69.8 | Relatively Low |
| Ionia County | 66,574 | 55.9 | Relatively Low |
| Isabella County | 64,565 | 66.1 | Relatively Low |
| Barry County | 63,409 | 46.0 | Relatively Low |
| St. Joseph County | 60,969 | 58.6 | Relatively Low |
| Tuscola County | 52,980 | 73.1 | Relatively Low |
| Cass County | 51,520 | 47.7 | Relatively Low |
| Newaygo County | 50,792 | 47.1 | Relatively Low |
| Hillsdale County | 45,654 | 50.0 | Relatively Low |
| Branch County | 45,300 | 51.8 | Relatively Low |
| Gratiot County | 41,385 | 54.1 | Relatively Low |
| Mecosta County | 41,242 | 69.8 | Relatively Low |
| Sanilac County | 40,462 | 70.3 | Relatively Low |
| Houghton County | 37,693 | 24.3 | Very Low |
| Delta County | 36,813 | 53.1 | Relatively Low |
| Chippewa County | 36,295 | 26.3 | Very Low |
| Emmet County | 34,125 | 38.1 | Very Low |
| Wexford County | 34,077 | 33.9 | Very Low |
| Clare County | 31,218 | 47.5 | Relatively Low |
| Huron County | 31,113 | 59.0 | Relatively Low |
| Mason County | 29,207 | 25.3 | Very Low |
| Alpena County | 28,880 | 28.3 | Very Low |
| Oceana County | 26,915 | 33.7 | Very Low |
| Charlevoix County | 26,108 | 22.3 | Very Low |
| Dickinson County | 25,954 | 59.3 | Relatively Low |
| Cheboygan County | 25,865 | 59.5 | Relatively Low |
| Gladwin County | 25,693 | 40.3 | Very Low |
| Otsego County | 25,584 | 18.4 | Very Low |
| Manistee County | 25,350 | 37.2 | Very Low |
| Iosco County | 25,347 | 37.8 | Very Low |
| Antrim County | 24,127 | 25.8 | Very Low |
| Roscommon County | 23,737 | 56.7 | Relatively Low |
| Menominee County | 23,247 | 44.4 | Relatively Low |
| Osceola County | 23,227 | 23.9 | Very Low |
| Leelanau County | 22,734 | 48.3 | Relatively Low |
| Ogemaw County | 20,885 | 37.0 | Very Low |
| Benzie County | 18,310 | 22.7 | Very Low |
| Kalkaska County | 18,239 | 21.3 | Very Low |
| Missaukee County | 15,207 | 11.1 | Very Low |
| Arenac County | 15,077 | 20.3 | Very Low |
| Gogebic County | 14,319 | 25.6 | Very Low |
| Crawford County | 13,369 | 18.0 | Very Low |
| Presque Isle County | 13,209 | 21.8 | Very Low |
| Lake County | 12,563 | 22.0 | Very Low |
| Iron County | 11,667 | 55.1 | Relatively Low |
| Mackinac County | 10,957 | 9.1 | Very Low |
| Alcona County | 10,397 | 17.7 | Very Low |
| Montmorency County | 9,516 | 15.9 | Very Low |
| Alger County | 8,762 | 9.6 | Very Low |
| Oscoda County | 8,425 | 15.1 | Very Low |
| Baraga County | 8,191 | 10.7 | Very Low |
| Schoolcraft County | 8,128 | 6.7 | Very Low |
| Luce County | 6,271 | 2.6 | Very Low |
| Ontonagon County | 5,850 | 4.2 | Very Low |
| Keweenaw County | 2,133 | 0.7 | Very Low |
The county rows show FEMA's own county percentile scores and rating categories; the state figures above are our weighted means. County data cannot establish a property's safety. Expected loss is modeled annual loss per resident, not a premium quote. The insurance figure is what owners with a mortgage reported paying in 2024 (Census American Community Survey), not a current quote. For a specific home, check the address on FEMA's flood map and get insurance quotes before you commit. Our guide explains how to check natural disaster risk before you move.
Lowest FEMA county risk scores in Michigan
- Otsego County 18.4
- Charlevoix County 22.3
- Osceola County 23.9
- Houghton County 24.3
- Mason County 25.3
- Antrim County 25.8
- Chippewa County 26.3
- Alpena County 28.3
Cities in Michigan
- Detroit, MI county-score mean 95.7
- Grand Rapids, MI county-score mean 83.1
- Ann Arbor, MI county-score mean 89.3
Frequently asked questions
Is Michigan safe from natural disasters?
Michigan's population-weighted county-score mean is 82.1 out of 100 (very high county-score mean), #27 of 51 from the lowest mean in our state comparison. A state average cannot show whether an individual home is safe. About 39% of residents live in counties FEMA rates relatively high or very high.
What natural disasters happen in Michigan?
The highest population-weighted county hazard-score means in Michigan are strong wind, cold wave, tornado (means 91, 88, 87 on the 0–100 county-score scale). These are not national state percentiles.
Which counties have the lowest modeled risk scores in Michigan?
Among counties with at least 20,000 people, the lowest FEMA county risk scores are in Otsego County, Charlevoix County, Osceola County. Conditions vary within each county; check an individual address separately.