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Barry County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
49th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$17Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Barry County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 54% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $274 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 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 (181 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.1 million on 281 claims here, including $933,000 for floods in 2018.

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

Top risks in Barry County

$10.2 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
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow58.9
$10M
TornadoModerate72.1
$3M
Strong windModerate76.5
$1M
Cold waveLow50.5
$1M
HailLow59.9
$446K
Ice stormModerate69.6
$253K
Heat waveVery Low32.5
$181K
EarthquakeVery Low35.1
$132K
LightningLow29.0
$123K
Winter weatherLow39.6
$53K
WildfireVery Low24.8
$12K
LandslideLow74.3
$10K
HurricaneVery Low21.1
$8K

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 Barry County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm5
Flood3
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
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 27, 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99Emergency
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 5, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 26, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 12
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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 260 storm reports in Barry County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $14.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1956.

22tornadoes
59hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
166damaging thunderstorm winds
12floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1956F3–0 / 0
Apr 11, 1965F3–5 / 0
Jul 15, 1986F2–0 / 0
Aug 6, 1955F2–1 / 0
Apr 21, 1967F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 17, 2013FloodMiddleville$5M
Apr 3, 1956Tornado–$3M
Jun 7, 2008Flash FloodYankee Spgs$700K
Apr 4, 2023HailIrving$500K
Apr 4, 2023HailFreeport$500K
Apr 4, 2023HailWoodland$500K

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 Barry County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (181 policies)
10.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.1 millionpaid on 281 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $933,360 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 Barry County

$264,100median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.1%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; 27,780 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
Kent CountyModerate11
Kalamazoo CountyModerate9
Calhoun CountyLow6
Allegan CountyLow15
Eaton CountyLow11
Ionia CountyLow14

Common questions about Barry County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Barry County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Barry County, about $10.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Barry County had?

Barry County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Barry County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 49th 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 Barry County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Barry 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 Barry County had?

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Barry County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1956. The weather service has also logged 59 hail reports and 12 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.