Macomb County, Michigan
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Macomb County, Michigan has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 97% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $268 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $304 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 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 (1,360 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $9.0 million on 1,437 claims here, including $2.9 million for floods in 2014.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Macomb 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.
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 97.5 | $146M | ||
| Tornado | 99.3 | $59M | ||
| Cold wave | 99.0 | $41M | ||
| Strong wind | 98.6 | $7M | ||
| Heat wave | 94.5 | $6M | ||
| Ice storm | 98.2 | $3M | ||
| Earthquake | 83.6 | $3M | ||
| Hail | 90.6 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 88.6 | $1M | ||
| Winter weather | 88.4 | $403K | ||
| Hurricane | 49.9 | $81K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 46.6 | $66K | ||
| Wildfire | 41.7 | $32K | ||
| Landslide | 36.4 | $557 |
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 Macomb County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 15
Michigan also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 724 storm reports in Macomb County since 1958, with 12 deaths and 250 injuries and about $390 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 8, 1964.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 1964 | F4 | – | 224 / 11 |
| Mar 20, 1976 | F3 | – | 3 / 1 |
| May 2, 1983 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 15, 1974 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 19, 1983 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 2014 | Flash Flood | St Clair Shrs | $300M |
| Jul 2, 1997 | Tornado | Romeo | $30M |
| May 2, 1983 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jul 21, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Warren | $6M |
| Jul 24, 2021 | Tornado | Armada | $5M |
| Aug 24, 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mt Clemens | $3M |
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.
Flood insurance in Macomb 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 Macomb 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; 373,413 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | 14 | |
| Oakland County | 12 | |
| St. Clair County | 9 | |
| Lapeer County | 8 |
Cities in Macomb County
Common questions about Macomb County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Macomb County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Macomb County, about $146 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $58.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Macomb County had?
Macomb County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in February 2024.
Is Macomb County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively High, 3rd 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 Macomb County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Macomb 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 Macomb County had?
NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Macomb County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 8, 1964. The weather service has also logged 187 hail reports and 43 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.