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Gladwin County, Michigan

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

Very Low overall risk
51st of 83highest risk in Michigan
$9Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Gladwin County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 60% of US counties. It ranks 51st of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $9.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $364 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2020 (severe storms and flooding). Only 37 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 31 claims here, including $1.4 million for floods in 2020.

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

Top risks in Gladwin County

$5.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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
$1.4 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.
$883,332 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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 floodingLow53.9
$5M
Cold waveModerate67.2
$1M
TornadoLow49.0
$883K
Strong windModerate68.3
$680K
LightningModerate65.8
$312K
HailLow54.3
$232K
Winter weatherModerate82.1
$170K
Heat waveVery Low18.5
$39K
Ice stormLow35.1
$31K
EarthquakeVery Low22.7
$26K
WildfireVery Low38.9
$18K
HurricaneVery Low22.5
$6K
LandslideVery Low41.0
$516

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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm3
Snowstorm2
Dam/Levee Break2
Drought1
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2020Severe Storms and FloodingEmergency
Aug 2, 2017Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Sep 18, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency
Mar 19, 1976Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & FloodingMajor disaster

Michigan also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 142 storm reports in Gladwin County since 1955, with 1 death and 6 injuries and about $18.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 30, 1976.

10tornadoes
41hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
80damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 30, 1976F3–0 / 0
Jun 7, 1955F2–0 / 0
May 21, 1975F2–0 / 0
Jun 22, 2024EF1Butman0 / 0
Jun 9, 2001F1Gladwin0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 18, 2020FloodGladwin Fortier Arpt$11M
May 18, 2020Flash FloodDale$7M
Jun 23, 2017FloodBeaverton Arpt$120K
Jun 22, 2024TornadoButman$100K
Jun 9, 2001TornadoGladwin$90K
Jun 8, 2008Thunderstorm WindHighwood$80K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1955, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Gladwin County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with top winds near 40 mph about 64 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1955most recent: Connie

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Gladwin County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (37 policies)
12.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.7 millionpaid on 31 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $1.4 million 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 Gladwin County

$162,300median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.3%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; 17,037 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
Bay CountyLow12
Midland CountyLow12
Isabella CountyLow9
Clare CountyLow7
Roscommon CountyLow5
Ogemaw CountyVery Low5
Arenac CountyVery Low9

Common questions about Gladwin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Gladwin County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Gladwin County, about $5.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Gladwin County had?

Gladwin County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2020.

Is Gladwin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 51st 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 Gladwin County?

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

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Gladwin County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 30, 1976. The weather service has also logged 41 hail reports and 9 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Gladwin County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Gladwin County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with winds near 40 mph.

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.