Cheboygan County, Michigan
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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 | 77.9 | $13M | ||
| Cold wave | 69.7 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 25.8 | $279K | ||
| Lightning | 48.1 | $158K | ||
| Hail | 36.1 | $111K | ||
| Strong wind | 17.1 | $108K | ||
| Heat wave | 21.3 | $51K | ||
| Winter weather | 23.8 | $16K | ||
| Earthquake | 11.4 | $8K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 37.2 | $8K | ||
| Wildfire | 25.3 | $8K | ||
| Hurricane | 24.5 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 67.2 | $3K | ||
| Ice storm | 6.4 | $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
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 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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 2007 | EF1 | Tower | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 12, 1988 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 1, 2014 | EF0 | Wolverine | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 5, 1955 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 2, 1970 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19, 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cheboygan | $100K |
| Aug 26, 2003 | Lightning | Wolverine | $75K |
| Aug 2, 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cold Spgs | $75K |
| Oct 18, 2007 | Tornado | Tower | $30K |
| Aug 16, 1978 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Aug 26, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Indian 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 ›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
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 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 | |
| Charlevoix County | 6 | |
| Otsego County | 5 | |
| Presque Isle County | 5 | |
| Mackinac County | 5 | |
| Montmorency County | 6 |
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.