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Osceola County, Michigan

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

Very Low overall risk
64th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$6Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Osceola County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 76% of US counties. It ranks 64th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $6.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $278 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 39 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 66 claims here, including $1.1 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 Osceola County

$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$867,249 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$851,953 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow36.7
$3M
Strong windModerate74.8
$867K
Cold waveLow53.8
$852K
TornadoLow36.5
$576K
Winter weatherHigh86.8
$244K
HailLow46.3
$178K
LightningLow48.5
$173K
Heat waveVery Low20.1
$49K
Ice stormLow30.4
$26K
EarthquakeVery Low16.9
$16K
WildfireVery Low23.3
$8K
LandslideLow75.1
$7K
HurricaneVery Low19.7
$4K

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 high 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 Osceola County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Snowstorm3
Severe Storm2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 27, 1999Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99Emergency
Sep 18, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1985Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency
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 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 101 storm reports in Osceola County since 1959, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $12.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 23, 1968.

13tornadoes
27hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
51damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 23, 1968F3–3 / 0
Mar 27, 1991F2–0 / 0
Aug 1, 2002F1Tustin1 / 0
Oct 2, 1963F1–0 / 0
Aug 8, 1977F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 17, 2013FloodTustin$3M
Apr 12, 2014FloodMarion$3M
Apr 23, 1968Tornado–$3M
Jun 13, 2008Flash FloodTustin$1M
Aug 1, 2002TornadoTustin$600K
Jul 4, 1994TornadoLeroy$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 13, 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 Osceola County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (39 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.7 millionpaid on 66 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $1.1 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 Osceola County

$155,400median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.8%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; 12,638 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
Isabella CountyLow9
Newaygo CountyLow11
Mecosta CountyLow11
Wexford CountyVery Low5
Clare CountyLow7
Missaukee CountyVery Low5
Lake CountyVery Low7

Common questions about Osceola County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Osceola County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Osceola County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $867,249.

How many federal disasters has Osceola County had?

Osceola County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Osceola County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 64th 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 Osceola County?

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

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Osceola County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 23, 1968. The weather service has also logged 27 hail reports and 10 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.