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Ingham County, Michigan

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
8th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$72Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: WMrapids, CC0

Ingham County, Michigan has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 87% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $72 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $254 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2024 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (608 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.4 million on 397 claims here, including $1.3 million for floods in 2018.

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

Top risks in Ingham County

$36.2 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.
$16.5 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.
$7.1 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate88.5
$36M
TornadoHigh96.2
$16M
Cold waveHigh89.2
$7M
Strong windVery High98.4
$7M
HailModerate92.6
$2M
Heat waveLow72.0
$1M
EarthquakeLow71.3
$941K
Ice stormHigh84.0
$608K
LightningModerate71.6
$573K
Winter weatherModerate78.5
$210K
HurricaneVery Low46.0
$54K
WildfireVery Low29.6
$15K
LandslideVery Low46.6
$1K

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 Ingham County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm3
Flood3
Severe Storm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Feb 8, 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Sep 30, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 1972Severe Storm & FreezingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 319 storm reports in Ingham County since 1956, with 8 deaths and 8 injuries and about $152 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on August 24, 2023 near Meridan.

29tornadoes
79hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
200damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 24, 2023EF2Meridan4 / 2
Oct 18, 2007EF2Vantown0 / 2
Aug 14, 1988F2–0 / 1
Aug 21, 2003F2Webberville2 / 0
Jul 15, 1985F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 24, 2023TornadoMeridan$75M
Oct 18, 2007TornadoVantown$15M
Aug 24, 2023Thunderstorm WindForest Hills$15M
Aug 24, 2023Thunderstorm WindWaverly Park$10M
Aug 24, 2023Thunderstorm WindAurelius$10M
Sep 9, 2001TornadoLansing$5M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 Ingham County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (608 policies)
29.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.4 millionpaid on 397 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $1.3 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 Ingham County

$198,800median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
65%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.6%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; 126,232 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
Livingston CountyLow6
Jackson CountyLow8
Eaton CountyLow11
Clinton CountyLow8
Shiawassee CountyLow12

Common questions about Ingham County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Ingham County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Ingham County, about $36.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $16.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Ingham County had?

Ingham County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in February 2024.

Is Ingham County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 8th 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 Ingham County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Ingham 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 Ingham County had?

NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Ingham County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on August 24, 2023 near Meridan. The weather service has also logged 79 hail reports and 11 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.