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Mecosta County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
23rd of 83highest risk in Michigan
$24Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: pixelnaiad, CC BY 2.0

Mecosta 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 23rd of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are strong wind, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $24 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $599 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (53 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.5 million on 64 claims here, including $902,000 for floods in 2013.

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

Top risks in Mecosta County

Strong wind

Very High
$11.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$8.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 6 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Strong windVery High99.6
$11M
Inland floodingLow62.8
$8M
TornadoLow62.8
$2M
Cold waveModerate65.6
$1M
Winter weatherHigh92.8
$424K
LightningLow50.9
$200K
HailLow46.2
$189K
Heat waveVery Low29.0
$105K
Ice stormLow51.7
$76K
EarthquakeVery Low27.8
$50K
WildfireVery Low29.2
$11K
HurricaneVery Low27.4
$10K
LandslideLow68.5
$4K

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood4
Snowstorm3
Severe Storm2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, 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
Sep 18, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1985Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency
Mar 19, 1976Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Sep 30, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1963

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 132 storm reports in Mecosta County since 1963, with 0 deaths and 26 injuries and about $18.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 23, 1968.

11tornadoes
39hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
69damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 23, 1968F3–8 / 0
Jun 9, 1974F2–2 / 0
Jun 8, 1985F2–0 / 0
Apr 20, 1966F2–0 / 0
Oct 6, 1998F1Big Rapids12 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 30, 2013FloodParis$5M
Apr 17, 2013FloodParis$3M
Apr 23, 1968Tornado–$3M
May 11, 2022FloodBig Rapids$3M
Oct 6, 1998TornadoBig Rapids$1M
Apr 4, 2011Flash FloodMorley Howe Arpt$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 16, 2025. 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 Mecosta County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (53 policies)
19.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.5 millionpaid on 64 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $901,801 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 Mecosta County

$178,900median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
52%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.5%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; 21,139 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
Montcalm CountyLow10
Isabella CountyLow9
Newaygo CountyLow11
Clare CountyLow7
Osceola CountyVery Low12
Lake CountyVery Low7

Common questions about Mecosta County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Mecosta County?

Strong wind has the highest expected yearly losses in Mecosta County, about $11.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $8.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Mecosta County had?

Mecosta County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Mecosta County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 23rd 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 Mecosta County?

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

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Mecosta County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 23, 1968. The weather service has also logged 39 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.