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Oceana County, Michigan

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

Very Low overall risk
57th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$10Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Oceana County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 57th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $376 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 45 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $183,000 on 30 claims here.

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

Top risks in Oceana County

$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$499,602 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 floodingLow43.6
$5M
Strong windHigh96.1
$3M
TornadoLow30.9
$500K
Winter weatherHigh91.8
$427K
Cold waveLow29.5
$371K
Heat waveVery Low30.5
$130K
LightningLow31.0
$105K
HailVery Low20.1
$66K
Ice stormLow45.9
$65K
EarthquakeVery Low20.0
$26K
WildfireVery Low34.6
$17K
HurricaneVery Low20.6
$6K
LandslideLow68.4
$5K
Coastal floodingVery Low26.8
$3K

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 Oceana County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Snowstorm3
Severe Storm2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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 2, 1977DroughtEmergency
Feb 5, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
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 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 116 storm reports in Oceana County since 1960, with 0 deaths and 41 injuries and about $10 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on August 15, 1978.

5tornadoes
41hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
63damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 15, 1978F2–1 / 0
May 28, 1991F2–0 / 0
Jul 11, 1967F1–0 / 0
Mar 30, 1977F1–3 / 0
Sep 14, 1990F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 31, 1998Thunderstorm WindPentwater$4M
Apr 17, 2013FloodPentwater$3M
May 15, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$700K
Jul 17, 2006Thunderstorm WindShelby$300K
Aug 15, 1978Tornado–$250K
May 28, 1991Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 16, 2025. 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 Oceana County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (45 policies)
15.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$183,478paid on 30 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $83,100 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 Oceana County

$190,100median 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
15.9%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; 15,723 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
Muskegon CountyLow12
Sheboygan County, WILow9
Ozaukee County, WILow11
Newaygo CountyLow11
Mason CountyVery Low7
Lake CountyVery Low7

Common questions about Oceana County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Oceana County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Oceana County, about $5.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $3.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Oceana County had?

Oceana County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Oceana County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 57th 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 Oceana County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Oceana 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 Oceana County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Oceana County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on August 15, 1978. The weather service has also logged 41 hail reports and 7 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.