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Macomb County, Michigan

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

Relatively High overall risk
3rd of 83highest risk in Michigan
$268Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$146 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • 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

Very High
$58.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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

Very High
$40.6 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 floodingHigh97.5
$146M
TornadoVery High99.3
$59M
Cold waveVery High99.0
$41M
Strong windVery High98.6
$7M
Heat waveModerate94.5
$6M
Ice stormVery High98.2
$3M
EarthquakeLow83.6
$3M
HailModerate90.6
$2M
LightningHigh88.6
$1M
Winter weatherHigh88.4
$403K
HurricaneVery Low49.9
$81K
Coastal floodingLow46.6
$66K
WildfireVery Low41.7
$32K
LandslideVery Low36.4
$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

Flood6
Severe Storm5
Snowstorm3
Hurricane1

Most recent

Feb 8, 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2021Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 25, 2014Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 27, 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99Emergency
Aug 5, 1998Severe Storms and High WindsMajor disaster
Jul 11, 1997Severe Storms, Tornadoes,And FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 19, 1976Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
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 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.

22tornadoes
187hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
446damaging thunderstorm winds
43floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 8, 1964F4–224 / 11
Mar 20, 1976F3–3 / 1
May 2, 1983F3–0 / 0
Jun 15, 1974F2–0 / 0
May 19, 1983F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 11, 2014Flash FloodSt Clair Shrs$300M
Jul 2, 1997TornadoRomeo$30M
May 2, 1983Tornado–$25M
Jul 21, 1998Thunderstorm WindWarren$6M
Jul 24, 2021TornadoArmada$5M
Aug 24, 2023Thunderstorm WindMt 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 ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,360 policies)
29.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$9 millionpaid on 1,437 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $2.9 million 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 Macomb County

$243,900median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.6%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; 373,413 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
Wayne CountyHigh14
Oakland CountyHigh12
St. Clair CountyModerate9
Lapeer CountyLow8

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.