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Midland County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
19th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$32Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Midland County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 72% of US counties. It ranks 19th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $32 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $386 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2020 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (289 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $28 million on 547 claims here, including $20 million for floods in 2020.

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

Top risks in Midland County

$18.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.2 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate76.9
$18M
Cold waveModerate84.1
$5M
TornadoModerate80.3
$4M
Strong windHigh92.1
$2M
HailModerate76.0
$761K
Winter weatherHigh91.6
$484K
Heat waveLow52.0
$434K
LightningLow53.1
$276K
EarthquakeVery Low36.2
$126K
Ice stormLow57.1
$123K
HurricaneVery Low34.7
$22K
WildfireVery Low32.6
$18K
LandslideVery Low29.8
$320

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 Midland County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Severe Storm3
Snowstorm2
Dam/Levee Break2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2020Severe Storms and FloodingEmergency
Aug 2, 2017Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jul 23, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1985Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Show all 12
Mar 19, 1976Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 284 storm reports in Midland County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $341 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 31, 1999 near Midland.

10tornadoes
103hail reports, largest 3 inches
151damaging thunderstorm winds
14floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 31, 1999F2Midland0 / 0
Apr 14, 1974F2–1 / 0
Mar 12, 2012EF1Alamanda0 / 0
Jun 26, 1951F1–0 / 0
Apr 15, 1976F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 22, 2017Flash FloodColeman$116M
May 19, 2020Flash FloodEdenville$100M
May 19, 2020Flash FloodSanford$100M
May 18, 2020FloodPleasant Vly$10M
Jul 27, 2014HailMidland$5M
Jul 27, 2014HailMapleton$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 Midland County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (289 policies)
28.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$27.9 millionpaid on 547 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $19.9 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 Midland County

$195,400median 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
7.6%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; 37,160 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
Saginaw CountyModerate16
Bay CountyLow12
Isabella CountyLow9
Gratiot CountyLow10
Clare CountyLow7
Gladwin CountyVery Low10

Cities in Midland County

Common questions about Midland County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Midland County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Midland County, about $18.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $5 million.

How many federal disasters has Midland County had?

Midland County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2020.

Is Midland County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 19th 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 Midland County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Midland 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 Midland County had?

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Midland County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 31, 1999 near Midland. The weather service has also logged 103 hail reports and 14 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.