Marquette County, Michigan
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Marquette County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 70% of US counties. It ranks 24th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $26 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $394 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 38 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $233,000 on 21 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Marquette County
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 96.2 | $13M | ||
| Inland flooding | 59.1 | $8M | ||
| Hail | 96.3 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 51.9 | $534K | ||
| Lightning | 73.4 | $509K | ||
| Winter weather | 90.1 | $375K | ||
| Tornado | 21.5 | $244K | ||
| Wildfire | 68.7 | $147K | ||
| Heat wave | 22.7 | $71K | ||
| Ice storm | 45.2 | $62K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 34.6 | $7K | ||
| Drought | 17.9 | $2K | ||
| Earthquake | 1.7 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 38.7 | $545 |
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 moderate 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 Marquette 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 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 550 storm reports in Marquette County since 1956, with 2 deaths and 8 injuries and about $81.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on May 24, 2016 near Clarksburg.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2016 | EF1 | Clarksburg | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 2012 | EF1 | Huron Mtn | 0 / 0 |
| May 24, 2016 | EF1 | Michigamme | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 10, 2000 | F1 | Gwinn | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 19, 1973 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 20, 2007 | Hail | Marquette | $10M |
| Jun 20, 2007 | Hail | Marquette | $10M |
| Jun 20, 2007 | Hail | Marquette | $10M |
| Jun 20, 2007 | Hail | Marquette | $8M |
| Apr 12, 2023 | Flood | Witch Lake | $7M |
| Jun 20, 2007 | Hail | Harvey | $6M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 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 Marquette 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 Marquette 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; 33,607 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Houghton County | 7 | |
| Delta County | 4 | |
| Dickinson County | 3 | |
| Menominee County | 6 | |
| Iron County | 5 | |
| Alger County | 3 | |
| Baraga County | 5 | |
| Keweenaw County | 3 |
Common questions about Marquette County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Marquette County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Marquette County, about $12.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $8 million.
How many federal disasters has Marquette County had?
Marquette County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.
Is Marquette County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 24th 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 Marquette County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Marquette 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 Marquette County had?
NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Marquette County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on May 24, 2016 near Clarksburg. The weather service has also logged 229 hail reports and 32 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.