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Gratiot County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
40th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$17Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Gratiot County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 54% of US counties. It ranks 40th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $399 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 10 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 (51 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $149,000 on 36 claims here.

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

Top risks in Gratiot County

$9.2 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow63.0
$9M
TornadoModerate73.0
$3M
Strong windHigh90.5
$2M
Cold waveModerate67.2
$2M
Winter weatherHigh89.7
$372K
HailLow59.0
$340K
Heat waveVery Low31.5
$137K
EarthquakeVery Low32.7
$89K
Ice stormLow52.0
$87K
LightningLow24.4
$79K
HurricaneVery Low39.0
$26K
WildfireVery Low6.6
$2K
LandslideVery Low33.0
$360

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood4
Severe Storm2
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jun 24, 1998Severe StormsMajor 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 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 168 storm reports in Gratiot County since 1954, with 2 deaths and 8 injuries and about $7.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 12, 1956.

15tornadoes
42hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
102damaging thunderstorm winds
8floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 12, 1956F2–4 / 1
Jun 11, 1968F2–0 / 1
Jun 26, 1956F2–2 / 0
Apr 11, 1965F2–1 / 0
Jun 15, 1982F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 17, 2013FloodRiverdale$3M
May 31, 1998Thunderstorm WindRiverdale$610K
Aug 9, 2011TornadoGalloway$500K
May 12, 1956Tornado–$250K
Jun 26, 1956Tornado–$250K
Apr 11, 1965Tornado–$250K

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 Gratiot County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (51 policies)
20.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$148,942paid on 36 flood claims since 1978
1986costliest year, with $107,580 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 Gratiot County

$147,500median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.7%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; 16,081 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
Saginaw CountyModerate16
Midland CountyLow12
Clinton CountyLow8
Shiawassee CountyLow12
Ionia CountyLow14
Montcalm CountyLow10
Isabella CountyLow9

Common questions about Gratiot County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Gratiot County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Gratiot County, about $9.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Gratiot County had?

Gratiot County has been included in 10 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 Gratiot County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 40th 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 Gratiot County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Gratiot 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 Gratiot County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Gratiot County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 12, 1956. The weather service has also logged 42 hail reports and 8 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.