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Clare County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
46th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$9Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clare County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 52% of US counties. It ranks 46th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $9.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $308 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Only 32 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Clare County

$4.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.

Cold wave

Moderate
$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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow50.1
$4M
Strong windHigh94.8
$2M
Cold waveModerate69.9
$1M
TornadoLow58.0
$1M
Winter weatherHigh92.0
$293K
LightningModerate68.2
$292K
HailLow61.6
$253K
Heat waveVery Low26.0
$66K
Ice stormLow42.2
$37K
EarthquakeVery Low23.8
$25K
WildfireVery Low42.7
$19K
HurricaneVery Low21.5
$4K
LandslideLow64.8
$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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood2
Snowstorm2
Severe Storm1
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Sep 18, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency
Mar 19, 1976Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 126 storm reports in Clare County since 1960, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $7.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on July 5, 2024 near Lake George.

10tornadoes
39hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
70damaging thunderstorm winds
6floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 5, 2024EF1Lake George0 / 0
Mar 30, 1976F1–0 / 0
Jun 29, 1987F1–0 / 0
Oct 6, 1998F0Clare0 / 0
Jun 26, 2021EF0Dover0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 17, 2013FloodLeota$3M
Jul 5, 2024TornadoLake George$2M
Sep 26, 1998HailLeota$300K
Apr 7, 2020HailLake$250K
Oct 6, 1998TornadoClare$200K
Aug 28, 2018Thunderstorm WindLeota$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 18, 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 Clare County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (32 policies)
9.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$26,830paid on 8 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $24,021 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 Clare County

$133,800median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.2%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; 22,008 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
Midland CountyLow12
Isabella CountyLow9
Mecosta CountyLow11
Gladwin CountyVery Low10
Roscommon CountyLow5
Osceola CountyVery Low12
Missaukee CountyVery Low5

Common questions about Clare County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clare County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clare County, about $4.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Clare County had?

Clare County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Clare County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 46th 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 Clare County?

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

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Clare County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on July 5, 2024 near Lake George. The weather service has also logged 39 hail reports and 6 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.