Luce County, Michigan
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Luce County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 97% of US counties. It ranks 82nd of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hail. FEMA estimates about $1.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $321 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (no major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Luce County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 15.5 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 16.4 | $125K | ||
| Hail | 26.0 | $72K | ||
| Lightning | 24.7 | $64K | ||
| Strong wind | 6.7 | $33K | ||
| Wildfire | 45.4 | $26K | ||
| Winter weather | 14.7 | $9K | ||
| Tornado | 3.7 | $8K | ||
| Heat wave | 3.3 | $2K | ||
| Earthquake | 2.3 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 49.1 | $940 | ||
| Ice storm | 2.4 | $675 | ||
| Drought | 13.5 | $92 | ||
| Coastal flooding | 13.2 | $0 |
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 high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Luce County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Michigan also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1977
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 84 storm reports in Luce County since 1977, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $1.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on August 22, 1977.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 22, 1977 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 8, 2016 | EF0 | Mc Leods Corner | 0 / 0 |
| May 1, 1983 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 23, 2011 | EF0 | Mc Millan Corner | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 30, 2018 | Hail | Deer Park | $1M |
| Jul 18, 2013 | Lightning | Mc Millan Corner | $70K |
| Jul 18, 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Deer Park | $50K |
| Aug 22, 1977 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Jul 16, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Newberry | $10K |
| Aug 26, 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Deer Park | $5K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 29, 2024. 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 Luce County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Luce County
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; 4,067 housing units.
Compare in Michigan
All 83 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | Inland flooding | |
| Oakland County | Inland flooding | |
| Macomb County | Inland flooding | |
| Kent County | Inland flooding | |
| Genesee County | Inland flooding | |
| Washtenaw County | Inland flooding | |
| Ottawa County | Inland flooding | |
| Ingham County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa County | 5 | |
| Mackinac County | 5 | |
| Alger County | 3 | |
| Schoolcraft County | 4 |
Common questions about Luce County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Luce County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Luce County, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $124,922.
How many federal disasters has Luce County had?
Luce County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including no major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.
Is Luce County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 82nd 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 Luce County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Luce County had?
NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Luce County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on August 22, 1977. The weather service has also logged 29 hail reports and 1 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.