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Allegan County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
25th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$32Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Allegan County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 68% of US counties. It ranks 25th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $32 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $267 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (118 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.2 million on 69 claims here, including $590,000 for floods in 2019.

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

Top risks in Allegan County

$22.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate79.4
$22M
TornadoModerate76.3
$4M
Strong windHigh86.5
$2M
Cold waveLow57.8
$2M
HailModerate84.5
$1M
Heat waveLow45.1
$339K
LightningLow55.0
$326K
EarthquakeVery Low48.2
$291K
Ice stormModerate66.7
$214K
Winter weatherModerate64.8
$124K
HurricaneVery Low38.0
$30K
WildfireVery Low32.6
$20K
Coastal floodingVery Low28.2
$4K
LandslideVery Low60.4
$3K

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 relatively low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood6
Snowstorm5
Severe Storm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 27, 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99Emergency
Sep 18, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 8, 1980Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 5, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Show all 15
Mar 19, 1976Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 1972Severe Storm & FreezingMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 376 storm reports in Allegan County since 1954, with 4 deaths and 45 injuries and about $37.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1956.

37tornadoes
77hail reports, largest 4 inches
245damaging thunderstorm winds
16floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1956F5–10 / 0
Apr 3, 1956F3–3 / 0
Jul 21, 1983F2–1 / 1
Apr 21, 1967F2–4 / 0
Jun 20, 1974F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 20, 1997Flash FloodCounty-Wide$7M
Apr 17, 2013FloodGlenn$5M
Jun 7, 2008Flash FloodCastle Park$4M
Jun 19, 2009Flash FloodHolland$4M
Apr 3, 1956Tornado–$3M
Aug 20, 2016TornadoKibbie$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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.

Flood insurance in Allegan County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (118 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.2 millionpaid on 69 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $590,344 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 Allegan County

$267,100median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
48%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.7%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; 52,636 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
Lake County, ILHigh15
Kent CountyModerate11
Ottawa CountyModerate14
Kalamazoo CountyModerate9
Racine County, WIModerate15
Kenosha County, WIModerate14
Van Buren CountyLow11
Barry CountyLow12

Cities in Allegan County

Common questions about Allegan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Allegan County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Allegan County, about $22.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Allegan County had?

Allegan County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Allegan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 25th 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 Allegan County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Allegan 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 Allegan County had?

NOAA records list 37 tornadoes in Allegan County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 3, 1956. The weather service has also logged 77 hail reports and 16 floods here.

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.