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Newaygo County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
47th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$13Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Newaygo County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 53% of US counties. It ranks 47th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $265 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 11 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 (91 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.3 million on 153 claims here, including $1.8 million for floods in 2014.

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

Top risks in Newaygo County

$8 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.
$1.9 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.
$960,550 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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 floodingLow60.1
$8M
Strong windHigh91.0
$2M
Cold waveLow53.6
$961K
TornadoLow45.4
$950K
Winter weatherHigh95.7
$685K
LightningLow49.5
$203K
Heat waveVery Low33.0
$143K
HailVery Low32.5
$118K
Ice stormLow52.3
$84K
EarthquakeVery Low29.0
$60K
WildfireVery Low44.8
$30K
LandslideLow73.9
$8K
HurricaneVery Low22.2
$7K

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood5
Severe Storm3
Snowstorm2
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 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
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 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 182 storm reports in Newaygo County since 1951, with 4 deaths and 3 injuries and about $15.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 26, 1951.

14tornadoes
54hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
101damaging thunderstorm winds
12floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 26, 1951F2–3 / 1
Jun 17, 1975F2–0 / 1
Apr 28, 1964F1–0 / 0
Apr 12, 1979F1–0 / 0
May 25, 1989F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 17, 2013FloodVolney$5M
Apr 12, 2014FloodCroton$4M
Mar 14, 2019FloodNewaygo$2M
May 31, 1998Thunderstorm WindWoodland Park$1M
Apr 12, 2014Thunderstorm WindGrant$200K
Jun 25, 2023Thunderstorm WindAshland Center$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 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 Newaygo County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (91 policies)
21.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.3 millionpaid on 153 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $1.8 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 Newaygo County

$186,700median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.1%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; 24,931 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
Kent CountyModerate11
Muskegon CountyLow12
Montcalm CountyLow10
Mecosta CountyLow11
Mason CountyVery Low7
Oceana CountyVery Low11
Osceola CountyVery Low12
Lake CountyVery Low7

Common questions about Newaygo County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Newaygo County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Newaygo County, about $8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Newaygo County had?

Newaygo County has been included in 11 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 Newaygo County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 47th 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 Newaygo County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Newaygo 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 Newaygo County had?

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Newaygo County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 26, 1951. The weather service has also logged 54 hail reports and 12 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.