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Gogebic County, Michigan

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

Very Low overall risk
61st of 83highest risk in Michigan
$6Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Gogebic County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 61st of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and lightning. FEMA estimates about $5.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $394 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2018 (severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Only 12 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $38,000 on 10 claims here.

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

Top risks in Gogebic County

$2.3 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$562,665 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 26 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low30.2
$2M
Cold waveModerate77.3
$2M
LightningHigh83.4
$563K
Strong windLow47.0
$332K
TornadoVery Low19.0
$145K
Winter weatherModerate80.5
$142K
HailLow34.9
$95K
Ice stormLow28.9
$20K
Heat waveVery Low11.4
$15K
WildfireVery Low14.4
$3K
EarthquakeVery Low0.6
$447
DroughtVery Low13.8
$129
LandslideVery Low17.0
$52
Coastal floodingVery Low13.4
$0

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 very high 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 Gogebic County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood3
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Freezing1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 2, 2018Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2002FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 1994Severe Deep FreezeMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 228 storm reports in Gogebic County since 1965, with 2 deaths and 2 injuries and about $28.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on July 11, 2016 near Puritan.

5tornadoes
68hail reports, largest 4 inches
130damaging thunderstorm winds
12floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 11, 2016EF1Puritan0 / 0
Jul 11, 2016EF1Hurley0 / 0
Apr 27, 1984F1–0 / 0
Jun 5, 2005F1Marenisco0 / 0
Aug 3, 1988F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 12, 2023FloodJunet$20M
Jul 11, 2016Flash FloodJunet$5M
Apr 28, 2013FloodIronwood$1M
Jul 11, 2016Thunderstorm WindWakefield$1M
Jul 28, 2006HailWakefield$750K
Jun 15, 2018FloodJunet$344K

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.

Flood insurance in Gogebic County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (12 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$38,343paid on 10 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $15,142 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 Gogebic County

$107,200median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1955median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
79%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2%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; 10,394 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
Vilas County, WILow5
Ashland County, WIVery Low12
Iron CountyLow5
Iron County, WIVery Low10
Ontonagon CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Gogebic County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Gogebic County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Gogebic County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2 million.

How many federal disasters has Gogebic County had?

Gogebic County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in August 2018.

Is Gogebic County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 61st 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 Gogebic County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Gogebic 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 Gogebic County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Gogebic County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on July 11, 2016 near Puritan. The weather service has also logged 68 hail reports and 12 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.