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Genesee County, Michigan

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
5th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$113Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Genesee County, Michigan has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 92% of US counties. It ranks 5th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $113 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $278 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (330 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.3 million on 467 claims here.

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

Top risks in Genesee County

$50.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$28.9 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.
$21.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate92.6
$51M
TornadoHigh98.5
$29M
Cold waveHigh98.3
$21M
Strong windHigh97.9
$5M
Heat waveModerate85.6
$2M
HailModerate91.1
$2M
LightningHigh89.5
$1M
Ice stormHigh89.6
$862K
EarthquakeLow70.8
$815K
Winter weatherLow59.0
$85K
HurricaneVery Low45.3
$46K
WildfireVery Low25.9
$11K
LandslideVery Low52.6
$2K

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood4
Severe Storm3
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jul 11, 1997Severe Storms, Tornadoes,And FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1985Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 19, 1976Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster

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 761 storm reports in Genesee County since 1953, with 121 deaths and 925 injuries and about $121 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on June 8, 1953.

51tornadoes
215hail reports, largest 3 inches
459damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 8, 1953F5–785 / 116
Jun 8, 1953F5–0 / 0
May 12, 1956F4–116 / 3
Jul 2, 1997F3Clio1 / 1
Jul 2, 1997F3Clio0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 8, 1953Tornado–$25M
Jun 8, 1953Tornado–$25M
Jul 20, 2023HailDavison$20M
Aug 24, 2007TornadoFenton$13M
May 4, 2012Flash FloodLennon$7M
Jun 28, 1994Thunderstorm WindFlint$5M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 10, 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 Genesee County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (330 policies)
20.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.3 millionpaid on 467 flood claims since 1978
2012costliest year, with $665,729 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 Genesee County

$182,400median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.6%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; 183,903 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
Oakland CountyHigh12
Livingston CountyLow6
Saginaw CountyModerate16
Lapeer CountyLow8
Shiawassee CountyLow12
Tuscola CountyLow10

Cities in Genesee County

Common questions about Genesee County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Genesee County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Genesee County, about $50.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $28.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Genesee County had?

Genesee County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Genesee County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 5th 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 Genesee County?

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

NOAA records list 51 tornadoes in Genesee County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on June 8, 1953. The weather service has also logged 215 hail reports and 21 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.