Charlevoix County, Michigan
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Charlevoix County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 66th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $8.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $311 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 40 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $184,000 on 10 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Charlevoix 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 | 32.3 | $4M | ||
| Cold wave | 78.3 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 20.7 | $259K | ||
| Lightning | 46.7 | $215K | ||
| Strong wind | 21.1 | $198K | ||
| Hail | 30.9 | $129K | ||
| Heat wave | 17.8 | $51K | ||
| Winter weather | 16.0 | $14K | ||
| Ice storm | 11.7 | $7K | ||
| Wildfire | 16.2 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 68.9 | $5K | ||
| Hurricane | 17.7 | $5K | ||
| Earthquake | 4.4 | $4K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 26.4 | $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 Charlevoix 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 82 storm reports in Charlevoix County since 1955 and about $314,000 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 31, 1977.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 1977 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 19, 1955 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 1, 2002 | F1 | Boyne City | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 21, 1989 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Horton Bay | $75K |
| Aug 26, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $45K |
| Jul 8, 2016 | Hail | East Jordan | $45K |
| Mar 28, 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Jordan | $40K |
| May 31, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Jordan | $20K |
| Apr 18, 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Jordan | $15K |
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 Charlevoix 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 Charlevoix 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; 17,640 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Emmet County | 5 | |
| Cheboygan County | 6 | |
| Otsego County | 5 | |
| Antrim County | 5 | |
| Leelanau County | 3 | |
| Mackinac County | 5 | |
| Schoolcraft County | 4 |
Common questions about Charlevoix County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Charlevoix County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Charlevoix County, about $3.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $3.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Charlevoix County had?
Charlevoix County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.
Is Charlevoix County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 66th 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 Charlevoix County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Charlevoix 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 Charlevoix County had?
NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Charlevoix County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 31, 1977. The weather service has also logged 34 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.