Oceana County, Michigan
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 43.6 | $5M | ||
| Strong wind | 96.1 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 30.9 | $500K | ||
| Winter weather | 91.8 | $427K | ||
| Cold wave | 29.5 | $371K | ||
| Heat wave | 30.5 | $130K | ||
| Lightning | 31.0 | $105K | ||
| Hail | 20.1 | $66K | ||
| Ice storm | 45.9 | $65K | ||
| Earthquake | 20.0 | $26K | ||
| Wildfire | 34.6 | $17K | ||
| Hurricane | 20.6 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 68.4 | $5K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 26.8 | $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
Most recent
Show all 11
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 1978 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| May 28, 1991 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 11, 1967 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 30, 1977 | F1 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Sep 14, 1990 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pentwater | $4M |
| Apr 17, 2013 | Flood | Pentwater | $3M |
| May 15, 2001 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $700K |
| Jul 17, 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Shelby | $300K |
| Aug 15, 1978 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 28, 1991 | Tornado | – | $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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | Inland flooding | |
| Oakland County | Inland flooding | |
| Macomb County | Inland flooding | |
| Kent County | Inland flooding | |
| Genesee County | Inland flooding | |
| Washtenaw County | Inland flooding | |
| Ottawa County | Inland flooding | |
| Ingham County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Muskegon County | 12 | |
| Sheboygan County, WI | 9 | |
| Ozaukee County, WI | 11 | |
| Newaygo County | 11 | |
| Mason County | 7 | |
| Lake County | 7 |
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.