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Emmet County, Michigan

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

Very Low overall risk
52nd of 83highest risk in Michigan
$13Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Emmet County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 62% of US counties. It ranks 52nd of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $374 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 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 (61 policies).

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

Top risks in Emmet County

$7.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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
$4 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.
$480,966 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow53.1
$8M
Cold waveModerate80.4
$4M
TornadoLow28.1
$481K
LightningLow38.8
$165K
HailVery Low31.2
$136K
Strong windVery Low12.5
$105K
Heat waveVery Low20.4
$68K
Winter weatherVery Low21.2
$20K
LandslideLow76.4
$11K
Ice stormVery Low14.9
$10K
Coastal floodingVery Low31.4
$6K
EarthquakeVery Low5.7
$6K
WildfireVery Low16.2
$6K
HurricaneVery Low12.8
$3K

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 Emmet County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Drought1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1
Flood1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 2025Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
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 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 85 storm reports in Emmet County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $638,500 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on July 4, 1957.

5tornadoes
18hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
57damaging thunderstorm winds
3floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 4, 1957F1–0 / 0
Jun 6, 1955F1–0 / 0
Sep 20, 1953F1–0 / 0
Aug 18, 1987F0–0 / 0
Aug 14, 1996F0Pellston Airport0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 18, 2020Thunderstorm WindBay View$135K
Jun 24, 1998HailPetoskey$100K
Jul 18, 2020Flash FloodMenonaqua Beach$80K
Aug 26, 2003Thunderstorm WindPetoskey$51K
Sep 21, 2018Thunderstorm WindHarbor Pt$40K
Jul 4, 1957Tornado–$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 3, 2022. 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 Emmet County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (61 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$31,718paid on 8 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $18,167 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 Emmet County

$315,700median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.5%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; 21,979 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
Charlevoix CountyVery Low6
Cheboygan CountyLow6
Mackinac CountyVery Low5

Common questions about Emmet County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Emmet County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Emmet County, about $7.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $4 million.

How many federal disasters has Emmet County had?

Emmet County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Emmet County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 52nd 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 Emmet County?

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

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Emmet County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on July 4, 1957. The weather service has also logged 18 hail reports and 3 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.