Saginaw County, Michigan
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Saginaw County, Michigan has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 88% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $72 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $378 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (841 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $12 million on 798 claims here, including $6.9 million for floods in 2020.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Saginaw 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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 | 91.4 | $43M | ||
| Cold wave | 94.9 | $11M | ||
| Tornado | 93.3 | $9M | ||
| Strong wind | 97.2 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 77.8 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 86.0 | $1M | ||
| Winter weather | 97.9 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 59.7 | $431K | ||
| Ice storm | 75.6 | $287K | ||
| Lightning | 46.4 | $198K | ||
| Hurricane | 50.5 | $73K | ||
| Wildfire | 16.0 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 31.5 | $333 |
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 Saginaw County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
Michigan also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 480 storm reports in Saginaw County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 9 injuries and about $28.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 21, 1996 near Frankenmuth.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 1996 | F3 | Frankenmuth | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 15, 1982 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Apr 28, 1986 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 5, 1953 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 12, 1956 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 2020 | Flood | Fordney | $9M |
| Jun 21, 1996 | Tornado | Frankenmuth | $5M |
| Jun 15, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 28, 1986 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 19, 2013 | Flood | Tri City Airport Sa | $1M |
| Jun 21, 1996 | Flash Flood | Nrn 1/2 of Co. | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 Saginaw 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 Saginaw 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; 86,208 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Genesee County | 10 | |
| Bay County | 12 | |
| Midland County | 12 | |
| Shiawassee County | 12 | |
| Tuscola County | 10 | |
| Gratiot County | 10 |
Cities in Saginaw County
Common questions about Saginaw County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Saginaw County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Saginaw County, about $43.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $10.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Saginaw County had?
Saginaw County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.
Is Saginaw County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 7th 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 Saginaw County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Saginaw 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 Saginaw County had?
NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Saginaw County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 21, 1996 near Frankenmuth. The weather service has also logged 126 hail reports and 17 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.