Schoolcraft County, Michigan
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Schoolcraft County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 93% of US counties. It ranks 80th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and lightning. FEMA estimates about $3.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $417 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Only 2 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Schoolcraft 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.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 23.7 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 30.2 | $392K | ||
| Lightning | 48.7 | $207K | ||
| Hail | 19.7 | $64K | ||
| Strong wind | 7.5 | $50K | ||
| Tornado | 8.0 | $41K | ||
| Wildfire | 34.4 | $17K | ||
| Winter weather | 8.7 | $6K | ||
| Ice storm | 4.5 | $2K | ||
| Heat wave | 3.1 | $1K | ||
| Earthquake | 0.9 | $866 | ||
| Landslide | 44.2 | $821 | ||
| Drought | 13.5 | $133 | ||
| Coastal flooding | 14.2 | $0 |
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 Schoolcraft County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Michigan also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1975
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 95 storm reports in Schoolcraft County since 1975, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $1.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on July 11, 1987.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 11, 1987 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 14, 1984 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jul 11, 1975 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5, 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cooks | $1M |
| Jul 10, 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Steuben | $500K |
| Oct 5, 1997 | Hail | Cooks | $100K |
| Jul 14, 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Steuben | $40K |
| Jul 14, 1984 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Jul 11, 1987 | Tornado | – | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 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 Schoolcraft 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 Schoolcraft 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; 5,956 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Delta County | 4 | |
| Charlevoix County | 6 | |
| Leelanau County | 3 | |
| Mackinac County | 5 | |
| Alger County | 3 | |
| Luce County | 3 |
Common questions about Schoolcraft County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Schoolcraft County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Schoolcraft County, about $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $392,021.
How many federal disasters has Schoolcraft County had?
Schoolcraft County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.
Is Schoolcraft County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 80th 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 Schoolcraft County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Schoolcraft County had?
NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Schoolcraft County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on July 11, 1987. The weather service has also logged 44 hail reports and 0 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.