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Monroe County, Michigan

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
10th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$55Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 71homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Monroe County, Michigan has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 82% of US counties. It ranks 10th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $55 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $354 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2024 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 71 homes here carry federal flood insurance (822 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $9.9 million on 1,672 claims here.

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

Top risks in Monroe County

$34 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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

Moderate
$7.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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

Moderate
$5.3 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 floodingModerate87.4
$34M
TornadoModerate89.2
$8M
Cold waveModerate84.0
$5M
Strong windHigh93.6
$3M
Heat waveLow73.9
$1M
HailModerate83.7
$1M
EarthquakeLow73.3
$1M
Ice stormHigh84.8
$673K
LightningLow54.1
$305K
Winter weatherModerate76.7
$201K
Coastal floodingLow46.0
$60K
HurricaneVery Low44.2
$48K
WildfireVery Low33.2
$20K
LandslideVery Low27.5
$278

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 Monroe County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Feb 8, 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 27, 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99Emergency
Mar 29, 1982FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 12, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 1, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 494 storm reports in Monroe County since 1953, with 17 deaths and 93 injuries and about $78.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965.

41tornadoes
112hail reports, largest 4 inches
318damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1965F4–5 / 6
Apr 11, 1965F4–5 / 5
Jun 8, 1953F4–18 / 4
Apr 11, 1965F4–29 / 2
Apr 17, 1963F3–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 6, 2010TornadoRea$50M
Jun 6, 2010TornadoDetroit Beach$10M
Nov 1, 2019FloodMonroe$4M
Mar 10, 2009FloodWoodland Beach$3M
Apr 11, 1965Tornado–$3M
Apr 11, 1965Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 Monroe County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (822 policies)
19.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$9.9 millionpaid on 1,672 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $2.6 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 Monroe County

$228,900median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8%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; 66,594 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
Lucas County, OHModerate13
Washtenaw CountyModerate9
Lenawee CountyLow4

Common questions about Monroe County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Monroe County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Monroe County, about $34 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $7.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Monroe County had?

Monroe County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in February 2024.

Is Monroe County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 10th 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 Monroe County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in Monroe 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 Monroe County had?

NOAA records list 41 tornadoes in Monroe County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 112 hail reports and 10 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.