Arenac County, Michigan
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Arenac County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 70th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $394 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2020 (severe storms and flooding). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (100 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.1 million on 119 claims here, including $1.4 million for floods in 2020.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Arenac County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 37.4 | $4M | ||
| Cold wave | 55.2 | $929K | ||
| Tornado | 31.9 | $460K | ||
| Strong wind | 48.0 | $419K | ||
| Lightning | 53.3 | $213K | ||
| Hail | 42.8 | $159K | ||
| Winter weather | 69.1 | $101K | ||
| Heat wave | 13.8 | $25K | ||
| Ice storm | 26.7 | $21K | ||
| Earthquake | 17.8 | $19K | ||
| Wildfire | 35.1 | $16K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 39.2 | $12K | ||
| Hurricane | 29.7 | $11K | ||
| Landslide | 29.5 | $239 |
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 high 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 Arenac County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Michigan also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 120 storm reports in Arenac County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 10 injuries and about $5.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 4, 1977.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 4, 1977 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 24, 1993 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Jul 13, 1995 | F2 | Alger | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 28, 2018 | EF1 | Au Gres Arpt | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 8, 1977 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 2020 | Flood | Alger | $4M |
| Jul 4, 1977 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Aug 28, 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sterling | $75K |
| Aug 28, 2018 | Tornado | Au Gres Arpt | $70K |
| Aug 3, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ferry | $50K |
| Apr 24, 1993 | Tornado | – | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 24, 2025. 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 Arenac County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with top winds near 45 mph about 57 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 57 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 1955 | Connie | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 57 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 Arenac County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Arenac County
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; 9,554 housing units.
Compare in Michigan
All 83 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | Inland flooding | |
| Oakland County | Inland flooding | |
| Macomb County | Inland flooding | |
| Kent County | Inland flooding | |
| Genesee County | Inland flooding | |
| Washtenaw County | Inland flooding | |
| Ottawa County | Inland flooding | |
| Ingham County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Bay County | 12 | |
| Huron County | 6 | |
| Gladwin County | 10 | |
| Iosco County | 9 | |
| Ogemaw County | 5 |
Common questions about Arenac County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Arenac County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Arenac County, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $929,086.
How many federal disasters has Arenac County had?
Arenac County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2020.
Is Arenac County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 70th 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 Arenac County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Arenac 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 Arenac County had?
NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Arenac County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 4, 1977. The weather service has also logged 45 hail reports and 10 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Arenac County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Arenac 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.