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Muskegon County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
21st of 83highest risk in Michigan
$28Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Muskegon 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 21st of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $28 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $158 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 June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (78 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $842,000 on 131 claims here.

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

Top risks in Muskegon County

$17.1 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$3.5 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate77.7
$17M
TornadoModerate80.4
$4M
Strong windHigh96.4
$3M
Cold waveLow58.2
$1M
Heat waveLow62.7
$636K
LightningModerate69.9
$482K
HailLow51.1
$264K
EarthquakeVery Low48.6
$246K
Ice stormModerate72.6
$245K
Winter weatherLow38.7
$42K
WildfireVery Low30.5
$14K
Coastal floodingVery Low34.2
$7K
HurricaneVery Low21.7
$7K
LandslideVery Low47.1
$1K

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 moderate 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 Muskegon County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Severe Storm3
Snowstorm3
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2013FloodingMajor 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
Jun 24, 1998Severe StormsMajor 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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 241 storm reports in Muskegon County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $48.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 4, 1965.

8tornadoes
66hail reports, largest 4 inches
152damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 4, 1965F2–0 / 0
Apr 16, 1967F1–0 / 0
Nov 17, 2013EF0Trent0 / 0
Apr 21, 1967F0–0 / 0
Nov 10, 1998F0Roosevelt Park0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 31, 1998Thunderstorm WindMontague$29M
May 18, 2020FloodMontague Arpt$6M
Apr 17, 2013FloodWhitehall$5M
Aug 9, 2009Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$2M
May 29, 1998Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$1M
Apr 12, 2014Thunderstorm WindMuskegon Hgts$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 10, 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 Muskegon County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (78 policies)
5.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$841,802paid on 131 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $236,550 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 Muskegon County

$198,300median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.8%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; 75,266 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
Milwaukee County, WIHigh20
Kent CountyModerate11
Ottawa CountyModerate14
Ozaukee County, WILow11
Newaygo CountyLow11
Oceana CountyVery Low11

Cities in Muskegon County

Common questions about Muskegon County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Muskegon County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Muskegon County, about $17.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Muskegon County had?

Muskegon 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, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Muskegon County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 21st 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 Muskegon County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Muskegon 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 Muskegon County had?

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Muskegon County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 4, 1965. The weather service has also logged 66 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.