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Jackson County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
15th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$38Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Jackson County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 76% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $38 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $236 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (149 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $216,000 on 41 claims here.

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

Top risks in Jackson County

$18.2 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.
$10.5 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.5 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 floodingModerate77.1
$18M
TornadoHigh93.6
$10M
Cold waveModerate78.9
$3M
Strong windHigh88.5
$2M
HailModerate87.8
$2M
EarthquakeLow68.1
$742K
Heat waveLow57.7
$553K
Ice stormModerate77.3
$354K
LightningModerate56.7
$312K
Winter weatherModerate70.9
$142K
HurricaneVery Low39.5
$30K
WildfireVery Low32.9
$18K
LandslideLow63.2
$4K

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 Jackson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm4
Severe Storm2
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 27, 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99Emergency
Sep 8, 1980Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 19, 1976Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 1972Severe Storm & FreezingMajor 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 310 storm reports in Jackson County since 1954, with 1 death and 15 injuries and about $10.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 15, 1982.

19tornadoes
62hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
223damaging thunderstorm winds
6floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 15, 1982F3–1 / 1
Mar 12, 1976F2–0 / 0
Mar 12, 1976F2–0 / 0
Jun 15, 1960F2–0 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 17, 2013FloodSpringport$3M
Jun 15, 1982Tornado–$3M
Jul 28, 2011Flash FloodSpringport$550K
Jun 24, 1998TornadoRives Jct$500K
Mar 12, 1976Tornado–$250K
Mar 12, 1976Tornado–$250K

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 Jackson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (149 policies)
7.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$216,321paid on 41 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $46,455 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 Jackson County

$193,700median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1967median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.3%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; 69,292 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
Washtenaw CountyModerate9
Ingham CountyModerate9
Livingston CountyLow6
Calhoun CountyLow6
Eaton CountyLow11
Lenawee CountyLow4
Hillsdale CountyLow6

Cities in Jackson County

Common questions about Jackson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Jackson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Jackson County, about $18.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $10.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Jackson County had?

Jackson County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Jackson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 15th 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 Jackson County?

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

NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Jackson County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 15, 1982. The weather service has also logged 62 hail reports and 6 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.