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Delta County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
41st of 83highest risk in Michigan
$15Mexpected losses a year
4federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Delta County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 53% of US counties. It ranks 41st of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hail. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $400 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Only 42 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $313,000 on 28 claims here.

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

Top risks in Delta County

$7.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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
$5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Hail

Moderate
$885,462 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow60.4
$8M
Cold waveModerate87.8
$5M
HailModerate83.2
$885K
Strong windLow39.1
$340K
LightningModerate64.4
$339K
TornadoVery Low24.2
$288K
WildfireVery Low49.7
$39K
Heat waveVery Low12.8
$24K
Winter weatherLow27.2
$22K
Ice stormVery Low16.1
$9K
Coastal floodingVery Low36.6
$8K
EarthquakeVery Low6.7
$5K
DroughtVery Low21.5
$5K
LandslideVery Low51.9
$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 high 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 Delta County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Drought1
Snowstorm1
Freezing1
Hurricane1

Most recent

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 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 271 storm reports in Delta County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries and about $7.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on July 11, 1987.

13tornadoes
90hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
129damaging thunderstorm winds
13floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 11, 1987F3–0 / 0
Jul 19, 1992F2–2 / 0
Jul 20, 1972F2–1 / 0
Aug 31, 2020EF1Pine Ridge0 / 0
Aug 16, 1968F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 5, 1997Thunderstorm WindRock$3M
Jul 19, 1992Tornado–$3M
Apr 12, 2026FloodFord River$550K
May 17, 1998Thunderstorm WindCornell$400K
Jul 20, 1972Tornado–$250K
Aug 31, 2020TornadoPine Ridge$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 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 Delta County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (42 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$312,618paid on 28 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $134,764 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 Delta County

$157,100median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
66%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.3%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; 19,845 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
Marquette CountyLow9
Door County, WILow4
Menominee CountyLow6
Leelanau CountyLow3
Alger CountyVery Low3
Schoolcraft CountyVery Low4

Common questions about Delta County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Delta County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Delta County, about $7.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $5 million.

How many federal disasters has Delta County had?

Delta County has been included in 4 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 Delta County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 41st 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 Delta County?

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

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Delta County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on July 11, 1987. The weather service has also logged 90 hail reports and 13 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.