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Mason County, Michigan

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

Very Low overall risk
62nd of 83highest risk in Michigan
$7Mexpected losses a year
7federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Mason County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 75% of US counties. It ranks 62nd of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $6.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $225 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2008 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 47 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $238,000 on 13 claims here.

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

Top risks in Mason County

$4.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$540,084 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$539,997 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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 floodingLow44.8
$4M
Strong windModerate58.7
$540K
Cold waveLow42.0
$540K
Winter weatherHigh94.1
$459K
TornadoVery Low25.2
$283K
Heat waveVery Low34.3
$131K
LightningLow31.7
$89K
HailVery Low20.9
$58K
EarthquakeVery Low23.4
$29K
Ice stormLow28.4
$22K
WildfireVery Low41.5
$22K
Coastal floodingVery Low32.8
$5K
HurricaneVery Low15.8
$3K
LandslideVery Low60.1
$2K

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood2
Severe Storm2
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 24, 1998Severe StormsMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1985Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 117 storm reports in Mason County since 1960, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $13.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 12, 1972.

5tornadoes
23hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
78damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 12, 1972F2–8 / 0
Apr 12, 1972F1–0 / 0
Apr 12, 1972F1–0 / 0
Jun 12, 2008EF1Hamlin Lake Lake0 / 0
Aug 15, 1966F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 13, 2008Flash FloodHamlin Lake Lake$4M
Apr 17, 2013FloodFreesoil$3M
Apr 12, 1972Tornado–$3M
May 31, 1998Thunderstorm WindLudington$1M
Apr 12, 2014Thunderstorm WindBass Lake$500K
Jul 20, 2019FloodFreesoil$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 31, 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 Mason County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (47 policies)
9.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$237,710paid on 13 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $118,630 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 Mason County

$219,600median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.4%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; 17,596 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
Sheboygan County, WILow9
Manitowoc County, WILow7
Newaygo CountyLow11
Oceana CountyVery Low11
Manistee CountyVery Low6
Lake CountyVery Low7

Common questions about Mason County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Mason County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Mason County, about $4.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $540,084.

How many federal disasters has Mason County had?

Mason County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in July 2008.

Is Mason County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 62nd 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 Mason County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Mason 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 Mason County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Mason County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 12, 1972. The weather service has also logged 23 hail reports and 11 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.