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Chippewa County, Michigan

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

Very Low overall risk
59th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$8Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Chippewa County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 59th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $7.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $213 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (73 policies).

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

Top risks in Chippewa County

$6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.
$1.3 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.
$242,414 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 540 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow49.9
$6M
Cold waveLow60.2
$1M
WildfireLow75.4
$242K
LightningLow36.5
$127K
Strong windVery Low7.5
$49K
Coastal floodingLow44.2
$39K
Winter weatherLow37.5
$37K
TornadoVery Low7.3
$34K
HailVery Low10.6
$31K
EarthquakeVery Low13.7
$13K
Heat waveVery Low8.1
$11K
HurricaneVery Low16.5
$4K
Ice stormVery Low7.7
$3K
LandslideVery Low50.9
$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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Snowstorm2
Drought1
Freezing1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 10, 1994Severe Deep FreezeMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency
Feb 5, 1977SnowstormsEmergency

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

Storm history since 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 122 storm reports in Chippewa County since 1961, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $796,300 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on August 5, 1977.

7tornadoes
57hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
49damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 5, 1977F1–0 / 0
Jul 12, 1987F1–0 / 0
Apr 1, 1987F0–0 / 0
Jul 11, 1987F0–0 / 0
Jul 12, 1972F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 16, 1978Tornado–$250K
Jul 3, 1999WaterspoutDrummond Is$200K
Sep 10, 2013Flash FloodSault Ste Marie$125K
Jun 11, 2017Thunderstorm WindMunnscong$35K
Aug 5, 1977Tornado–$25K
Apr 30, 2020FloodKelden$20K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Chippewa County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (73 policies)
2.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$136,915paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $122,643 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 Chippewa County

$161,900median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.2%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; 20,348 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
Presque Isle CountyVery Low5
Mackinac CountyVery Low5
Luce CountyVery Low3

Common questions about Chippewa County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Chippewa County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Chippewa County, about $6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Chippewa County had?

Chippewa County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Chippewa County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 59th 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 Chippewa County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Chippewa 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 Chippewa County had?

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Chippewa County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on August 5, 1977. The weather service has also logged 57 hail reports and 7 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.