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Iosco County, Michigan

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

Very Low overall risk
53rd of 83highest risk in Michigan
$8Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Iosco County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 62% of US counties. It ranks 53rd of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $8.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $330 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (183 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $841,000 on 81 claims here.

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

Top risks in Iosco County

$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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.
$521,475 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow52.9
$5M
Cold waveModerate68.9
$1M
TornadoLow36.7
$521K
Strong windModerate52.2
$415K
LightningModerate65.8
$298K
HailLow54.2
$221K
Winter weatherModerate84.1
$183K
WildfireVery Low60.7
$62K
Heat waveVery Low19.9
$43K
EarthquakeVery Low23.6
$27K
HurricaneVery Low40.1
$20K
Ice stormVery Low26.2
$18K
Coastal floodingVery Low41.4
$16K
LandslideVery Low32.0
$254

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 Iosco County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Snowstorm2
Drought1
Hurricane1
Dam/Levee Break1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 27, 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99Emergency
Sep 18, 1985Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency
Apr 12, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 1, 1972Severe Storms & 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 170 storm reports in Iosco County since 1953, with 4 deaths and 20 injuries and about $7.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 27, 1991.

14tornadoes
73hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
78damaging thunderstorm winds
2floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 27, 1991F3–0 / 0
Mar 27, 1991F3–0 / 0
Jun 8, 1953F2–13 / 4
Jun 20, 1982F1–0 / 0
Jun 17, 2014EF1Hale0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 27, 1991Tornado–$3M
Mar 27, 1991Tornado–$3M
May 18, 2020FloodAlabaster$1M
Jun 8, 1953Tornado–$250K
Jun 20, 1982Tornado–$250K
Jun 17, 2014TornadoHale$140K

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 Iosco County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with top winds near 45 mph about 65 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 45 mph65 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 Iosco County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (183 policies)
12.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$841,440paid on 81 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $517,191 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 Iosco County

$142,200median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
67%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.8%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; 20,061 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
Huron CountyLow6
Ogemaw CountyVery Low5
Arenac CountyVery Low9
Alcona CountyVery Low7
Oscoda CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Iosco County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Iosco County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Iosco County, about $5.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Iosco County had?

Iosco County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Iosco County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 53rd 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 Iosco County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Iosco 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 Iosco County had?

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Iosco County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 27, 1991. The weather service has also logged 73 hail reports and 2 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Iosco County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Iosco County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with winds near 45 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.