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Eaton County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
26th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$30Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Eaton County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 68% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $30 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $275 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (192 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $703,000 on 149 claims here.

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

Top risks in Eaton County

$16 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$6.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$2.7 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 floodingLow72.0
$16M
TornadoModerate86.5
$6M
Strong windHigh92.4
$3M
Cold waveModerate68.6
$2M
HailModerate85.1
$1M
EarthquakeVery Low51.1
$330K
Heat waveLow45.0
$328K
Ice stormModerate72.6
$285K
LightningLow43.5
$209K
Winter weatherLow50.8
$74K
HurricaneVery Low37.6
$28K
WildfireVery Low22.8
$11K
LandslideVery Low46.1
$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 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 Eaton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm4
Flood3
Severe Storm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 8, 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 5, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 26, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 1972Severe Storm & FreezingMajor disaster
Show all 11
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 236 storm reports in Eaton County since 1951, with 2 deaths and 53 injuries and about $70.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 2, 1977.

26tornadoes
67hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
133damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 2, 1977F4–44 / 1
Aug 24, 2007EF3Charlotte5 / 0
May 28, 1955F2–1 / 0
Aug 26, 1986F2–0 / 0
Apr 21, 1967F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 24, 2007TornadoCharlotte$40M
Sep 9, 2001TornadoPotterville$10M
Aug 24, 2023Thunderstorm WindGrand Ledge Arpt$5M
Apr 17, 2013FloodWoodbury$3M
Apr 2, 1977Tornado–$3M
Jul 28, 2011Flash FloodWoodbury$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 Eaton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (192 policies)
20.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$702,759paid on 149 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $114,884 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 Eaton County

$216,900median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.1%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; 47,753 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
Jackson CountyLow8
Calhoun CountyLow6
Clinton CountyLow8
Ionia CountyLow14
Barry CountyLow12

Cities in Eaton County

Common questions about Eaton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Eaton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Eaton County, about $16 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $6.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Eaton County had?

Eaton County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Eaton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 26th 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 Eaton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Eaton 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 Eaton County had?

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Eaton County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 2, 1977. The weather service has also logged 67 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.