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Alcona County, Michigan

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
73rd of 83highest risk in Michigan
$5Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Alcona County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 73rd of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and lightning. FEMA estimates about $4.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $466 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 34 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $72,000 on 15 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Alcona County

$3.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$553,267 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Lightning

Moderate
$215,506 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 25 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow41.3
$4M
Cold waveLow45.0
$553K
LightningModerate57.5
$216K
TornadoVery Low20.7
$177K
Strong windVery Low14.7
$84K
HailVery Low26.0
$68K
WildfireVery Low41.3
$20K
Heat waveVery Low11.5
$16K
HurricaneVery Low29.5
$10K
EarthquakeVery Low7.3
$5K
Ice stormVery Low11.3
$4K
Coastal floodingVery Low30.0
$3K
Winter weatherVery Low4.8
$2K
LandslideVery Low53.7
$1K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Alcona County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm2
Flood2
Drought1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 2025Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 27, 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99Emergency
Sep 18, 1985Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency

Michigan also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 139 storm reports in Alcona County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $5.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 27, 1991.

12tornadoes
57hail reports, largest 2 inches
65damaging thunderstorm winds
5floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 27, 1991F3–0 / 0
Mar 27, 1991F3–0 / 0
Jun 8, 1953F3–0 / 0
Mar 30, 1976F2–0 / 0
Jul 3, 1999F1Barton City0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 27, 1991Tornado–$3M
Mar 27, 1991Tornado–$3M
Jun 8, 1953Tornado–$250K
Jul 3, 1999TornadoBarton City$250K
Jun 22, 2008Flash FloodHarrisville Arpt$100K
Jun 22, 2008TornadoBackus Beach$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 1, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1955, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Alcona County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with top winds near 45 mph about 54 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1955most recent: Connie

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Alcona County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (34 policies)
2.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$72,276paid on 15 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $47,635 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Alcona County

$162,800median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.3%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 10,320 housing units.

Compare in Michigan

All 83 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Wayne CountyHighInland flooding
Oakland CountyHighInland flooding
Macomb CountyHighInland flooding
Kent CountyModerateInland flooding
Genesee CountyModerateInland flooding
Washtenaw CountyModerateInland flooding
Ottawa CountyModerateInland flooding
Ingham CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Alpena CountyVery Low5
Iosco CountyVery Low9
Ogemaw CountyVery Low5
Oscoda CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Alcona County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Alcona County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Alcona County, about $3.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $553,267.

How many federal disasters has Alcona County had?

Alcona County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Alcona County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 73rd highest of 83 in Michigan. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Alcona County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Alcona County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Alcona County had?

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Alcona County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 27, 1991. The weather service has also logged 57 hail reports and 5 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Alcona County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Alcona County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with winds near 45 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.