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Cheboygan County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
32nd of 83highest risk in Michigan
$15Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Cheboygan County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 60% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $597 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). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (66 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 36 claims here, including $1.7 million for floods in 2026.

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

Top risks in Cheboygan County

$13 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Tornado

Very Low
$279,273 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate77.9
$13M
Cold waveModerate69.7
$2M
TornadoVery Low25.8
$279K
LightningLow48.1
$158K
HailLow36.1
$111K
Strong windLow17.1
$108K
Heat waveVery Low21.3
$51K
Winter weatherVery Low23.8
$16K
EarthquakeVery Low11.4
$8K
Coastal floodingVery Low37.2
$8K
WildfireVery Low25.3
$8K
HurricaneVery Low24.5
$6K
LandslideLow67.2
$3K
Ice stormVery Low6.4
$2K

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 very high and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Cheboygan County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Drought1
Snowstorm1
Freezing1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1
Flood1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 2025Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 10, 1994Severe Deep FreezeMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency

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 98 storm reports in Cheboygan County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $544,750 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on October 18, 2007 near Tower.

7tornadoes
23hail reports, largest 2 inches
62damaging thunderstorm winds
3floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 18, 2007EF1Tower0 / 0
Aug 12, 1988F1–0 / 0
Sep 1, 2014EF0Wolverine0 / 0
Jun 5, 1955F0–0 / 0
Oct 2, 1970F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 19, 2020Thunderstorm WindCheboygan$100K
Aug 26, 2003LightningWolverine$75K
Aug 2, 2015Thunderstorm WindCold Spgs$75K
Oct 18, 2007TornadoTower$30K
Aug 16, 1978Tornado–$25K
Aug 26, 2003Thunderstorm WindIndian River$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 13, 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 Cheboygan County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (66 policies)
6.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.7 millionpaid on 36 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $1.7 million 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 Cheboygan County

$192,500median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8%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; 17,788 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
Emmet CountyVery Low5
Charlevoix CountyVery Low6
Otsego CountyVery Low5
Presque Isle CountyVery Low5
Mackinac CountyVery Low5
Montmorency CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Cheboygan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cheboygan County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cheboygan County, about $13 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Cheboygan County had?

Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 32nd 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 Cheboygan County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Cheboygan County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on October 18, 2007 near Tower. The weather service has also logged 23 hail reports and 3 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.