Benzie County, Michigan
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Benzie County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 77% of US counties. It ranks 65th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and winter weather. FEMA estimates about $7.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $411 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 21 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $87,000 on 11 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Benzie 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.
- Keep a winter kit in the car.
- Have food, water and medicine for several days at home.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 37.2 | $4M | ||
| Cold wave | 75.2 | $3M | ||
| Winter weather | 86.8 | $292K | ||
| Tornado | 17.3 | $173K | ||
| Strong wind | 18.4 | $149K | ||
| Lightning | 27.9 | $94K | ||
| Heat wave | 16.1 | $39K | ||
| Hail | 9.6 | $28K | ||
| Landslide | 71.3 | $6K | ||
| Earthquake | 5.3 | $5K | ||
| Wildfire | 12.1 | $4K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 27.2 | $3K | ||
| Hurricane | 8.7 | $1K | ||
| Ice storm | 3.3 | $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 relatively moderate 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 Benzie 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 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 63 storm reports in Benzie County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 30 injuries and about $470,750 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1956.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1956 | F4 | – | 24 / 2 |
| Oct 15, 1989 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 26, 1986 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 1983 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1956 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 17, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lake Ann | $60K |
| Oct 15, 1989 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Jun 23, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Watervale | $16K |
| Aug 28, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Frankfort | $15K |
| Aug 27, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lake Ann | $12K |
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.
Flood insurance in Benzie 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 Benzie 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; 12,326 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Traverse County | 4 | |
| Wexford County | 5 | |
| Door County, WI | 4 | |
| Manistee County | 6 | |
| Leelanau County | 3 | |
| Kewaunee County, WI | 6 |
Common questions about Benzie County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Benzie County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Benzie County, about $4.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Benzie County had?
Benzie County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.
Is Benzie County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 65th 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 Benzie County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Benzie 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 Benzie County had?
NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Benzie County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1956. The weather service has also logged 20 hail reports and 1 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.