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Calhoun County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
16th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$35Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Calhoun County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 74% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $35 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $257 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (129 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $223,000 on 60 claims here.

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

Top risks in Calhoun County

$17.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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
$6.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$4.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate75.8
$17M
TornadoModerate88.3
$7M
Strong windHigh97.2
$4M
Cold waveModerate75.7
$3M
HailModerate89.5
$2M
EarthquakeLow66.6
$689K
Heat waveLow50.5
$398K
LightningLow53.2
$275K
Ice stormModerate71.6
$248K
Winter weatherModerate68.2
$127K
HurricaneVery Low37.5
$26K
WildfireVery Low28.5
$13K
LandslideVery Low62.1
$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 Calhoun County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm3
Flood2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Sep 8, 1980Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 26, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 1972Severe Storm & FreezingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 394 storm reports in Calhoun County since 1956, with 1 death and 31 injuries and about $50.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 27, 1991.

18tornadoes
77hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
289damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 27, 1991F3–18 / 0
Jul 15, 1986F2–0 / 0
Jun 5, 2010EF1Springfield Place0 / 0
Jul 20, 2003F1Battle Creek0 / 0
Feb 28, 2024EF1Marshall0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 29, 2011Thunderstorm WindWest Leroy$25M
Apr 17, 2013FloodBedford$5M
Aug 24, 2023Thunderstorm WindMarengo$5M
Jun 5, 2010TornadoSpringfield Place$2M
Jul 1, 2014Thunderstorm WindKellog Arpt Btl$2M
Jul 20, 2003TornadoBattle Creek$1M

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 Calhoun County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (129 policies)
13.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$222,984paid on 60 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $47,560 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 Calhoun County

$162,800median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1961median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.7%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; 59,602 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
Kalamazoo CountyModerate9
Jackson CountyLow8
Eaton CountyLow11
Barry CountyLow12
St. Joseph CountyLow6
Hillsdale CountyLow6
Branch CountyLow4

Cities in Calhoun County

Common questions about Calhoun County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Calhoun County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Calhoun County, about $17.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $6.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Calhoun County had?

Calhoun County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Calhoun County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 16th 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 Calhoun County?

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

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Calhoun County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 27, 1991. The weather service has also logged 77 hail reports and 9 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.