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Dickinson County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
33rd of 83highest risk in Michigan
$21Mexpected losses a year
3federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Dickinson County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 59% of US counties. It ranks 33rd of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $21 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $807 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (no major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Only 24 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 Dickinson County

$14.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$4.6 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.

Hail

Moderate
$892,436 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
Cold waveHigh96.3
$14M
Inland floodingLow38.7
$5M
HailModerate80.3
$892K
TornadoVery Low25.8
$385K
LightningModerate56.6
$298K
Strong windLow24.7
$234K
Winter weatherLow52.2
$69K
Heat waveVery Low13.0
$29K
Ice stormVery Low20.0
$16K
WildfireVery Low27.8
$12K
DroughtVery Low19.9
$4K
EarthquakeVery Low2.0
$2K
LandslideVery Low25.3
$195

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Drought1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency

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 247 storm reports in Dickinson County since 1961 and about $8.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on July 11, 1987.

9tornadoes
90hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
117damaging thunderstorm winds
16floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 11, 1987F3–0 / 0
Jun 14, 1981F2–0 / 0
Sep 30, 2002F1Kingsford0 / 0
Jun 10, 2000F1Ralph0 / 0
Apr 21, 1974F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 30, 2002TornadoKingsford$7M
Jul 30, 1999Thunderstorm WindCountywide$500K
Jun 9, 2000HailIron Mtn$225K
Oct 17, 2016Flash FloodNorway$200K
Oct 5, 2005LightningIron Mtn$140K
Jun 10, 2000TornadoRalph$120K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 24, 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 Dickinson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (24 policies)
9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$14,756paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
1999costliest year, with $4,753 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 Dickinson County

$153,300median 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
4.6%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; 13,951 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
Marinette County, WILow5
Menominee CountyLow6
Iron CountyLow5
Florence County, WILow4

Common questions about Dickinson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Dickinson County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Dickinson County, about $14.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Dickinson County had?

Dickinson County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including no major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Dickinson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 33rd 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 Dickinson County?

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

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Dickinson County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on July 11, 1987. The weather service has also logged 90 hail reports and 16 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.