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Lapeer County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
27th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$28Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lapeer County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 66% of US counties. It ranks 27th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $28 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $316 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Only 47 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $174,000 on 27 claims here.

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

Top risks in Lapeer County

$13.4 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$5.6 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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 floodingLow68.4
$13M
TornadoModerate84.5
$6M
Cold waveModerate83.7
$5M
Strong windHigh91.3
$2M
HailLow63.0
$461K
Heat waveLow47.5
$362K
LightningLow52.8
$282K
Ice stormModerate72.4
$274K
EarthquakeVery Low35.6
$126K
Winter weatherLow25.4
$26K
HurricaneVery Low29.7
$15K
WildfireVery Low16.9
$7K
LandslideVery Low60.5
$3K

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood3
Severe Storm2
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jul 23, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor 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
Apr 26, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 397 storm reports in Lapeer County since 1951, with 1 death and 66 injuries and about $42.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on June 8, 1953.

20tornadoes
86hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
266damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 8, 1953F5–59 / 0
Jun 8, 1953F4–0 / 0
Mar 15, 2012EF2Columbiaville0 / 0
Aug 24, 2007EF1Hadley0 / 0
Jul 4, 1977F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 8, 1953Tornado–$25M
Jun 21, 1996Flash FloodNrn 1/2 of Co.$6M
Aug 9, 2009FloodHolloway Res$3M
Aug 2, 2006Flash FloodColumbiaville$1M
Aug 24, 2007TornadoHadley$1M
Jul 27, 2000LightningDryden$650K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 Lapeer County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with top winds near 45 mph about 61 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 45 mph61 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 Lapeer County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (47 policies)
8.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$173,581paid on 27 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $116,315 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 Lapeer County

$239,000median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.3%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; 37,147 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
Oakland CountyHigh12
Macomb CountyHigh15
Genesee CountyModerate10
St. Clair CountyModerate9
Tuscola CountyLow10
Sanilac CountyLow10

Common questions about Lapeer County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lapeer County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lapeer County, about $13.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $5.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Lapeer County had?

Lapeer County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Lapeer County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 27th 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 Lapeer County?

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

NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Lapeer County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on June 8, 1953. The weather service has also logged 86 hail reports and 15 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Lapeer County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Lapeer 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.