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Montmorency County, Michigan

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

Very Low overall risk
74th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$4Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Montmorency County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 84% of US counties. It ranks 74th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and lightning. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $447 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Montmorency County

$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 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.
$423,216 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Lightning

Moderate
$222,887 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 25 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow38.8
$3M
Cold waveLow39.4
$423K
LightningModerate60.4
$223K
TornadoVery Low21.0
$170K
HailVery Low27.7
$71K
Strong windVery Low13.1
$69K
WildfireVery Low60.4
$56K
Heat waveVery Low13.5
$20K
EarthquakeVery Low6.3
$4K
HurricaneVery Low17.6
$3K
Winter weatherVery Low6.7
$3K
Ice stormVery Low7.9
$3K
LandslideVery Low62.1
$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 very high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Snowstorm2
Drought1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1
Flood1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 2025Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 27, 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99Emergency
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 111 storm reports in Montmorency County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 13, 2004 near Hillman.

6tornadoes
45hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
58damaging thunderstorm winds
2floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 13, 2004F1Hillman0 / 0
Jul 3, 1999F1Lewiston0 / 0
Jun 14, 1957F1–0 / 0
Jul 17, 1982F0–0 / 0
Jul 17, 1982F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 24, 1993Thunderstorm WindLewiston$500K
Jun 13, 2004TornadoHillman$150K
Jul 3, 1999TornadoLewiston$60K
Jul 8, 2016HailHillman$50K
Jun 5, 2005Thunderstorm WindLewiston$40K
Jul 15, 2008Thunderstorm WindLewiston$28K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 1, 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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1955, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Montmorency County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with top winds near 40 mph about 55 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1955most recent: Connie

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 40 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 40 mph55 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Montmorency County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Montmorency County

$158,600median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.4%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; 8,925 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
Alpena CountyVery Low5
Cheboygan CountyLow6
Otsego CountyVery Low5
Presque Isle CountyVery Low5
Crawford CountyVery Low7
Oscoda CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Montmorency County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Montmorency County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Montmorency County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $423,216.

How many federal disasters has Montmorency County had?

Montmorency County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Montmorency County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 74th 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 Montmorency County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Montmorency County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Montmorency County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 13, 2004 near Hillman. The weather service has also logged 45 hail reports and 2 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Montmorency County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Montmorency County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with winds near 40 mph.

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.