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Clinton County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
48th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$24Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clinton County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 53% of US counties. It ranks 48th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $24 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $308 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (78 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $497,000 on 29 claims here.

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

Top risks in Clinton County

$11.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$5.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow51.5
$11M
TornadoModerate76.9
$6M
Strong windHigh90.2
$3M
Cold waveLow62.5
$3M
HailLow65.8
$767K
Heat waveVery Low29.5
$215K
Ice stormLow57.7
$198K
EarthquakeVery Low32.2
$152K
LightningVery Low20.1
$112K
Winter weatherLow28.9
$46K
HurricaneVery Low34.3
$33K
WildfireVery Low13.2
$7K
LandslideVery Low38.0
$932

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 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 Clinton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm3
Severe Storm2
Tornado1
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jun 24, 1998Severe StormsMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 19, 1976Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 1972Severe Storm & FreezingMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 264 storm reports in Clinton County since 1951, with 3 deaths and 27 injuries and about $20 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965.

19tornadoes
47hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
188damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1965F4–8 / 1
Apr 21, 1967F4–8 / 0
May 12, 1956F2–3 / 0
Aug 15, 1951F2–0 / 0
Apr 2, 1977F2–6 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 17, 2013FloodMatherton$5M
Aug 24, 2023Thunderstorm WindSt Johns$5M
May 12, 1956Tornado–$3M
Apr 21, 1967Tornado–$3M
May 31, 1998Thunderstorm WindHubbardston$503K
May 21, 2001TornadoRiley$400K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 15, 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 Clinton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (78 policies)
10.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$497,402paid on 29 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $122,316 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 Clinton County

$259,500median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.1%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; 33,315 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
Ingham CountyModerate9
Eaton CountyLow11
Shiawassee CountyLow12
Ionia CountyLow14
Montcalm CountyLow10
Gratiot CountyLow10

Cities in Clinton County

Common questions about Clinton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clinton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clinton County, about $11.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $5.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Clinton County had?

Clinton County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Clinton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 48th 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 Clinton County?

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

NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Clinton County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 47 hail reports and 10 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.