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Shiawassee County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
30th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$22Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Shiawassee County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 30th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $324 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (215 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $106,000 on 62 claims here.

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

Top risks in Shiawassee County

$7.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$5.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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 floodingLow55.2
$8M
TornadoModerate86.2
$5M
Cold waveModerate85.6
$5M
Strong windHigh93.8
$3M
Heat waveLow55.7
$475K
HailLow64.1
$427K
Ice stormModerate68.0
$193K
EarthquakeVery Low39.4
$144K
LightningLow32.0
$114K
HurricaneVery Low39.5
$28K
Winter weatherVery Low22.2
$19K
WildfireVery Low8.6
$3K
LandslideVery Low42.6
$775

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 Shiawassee County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Severe Storm3
Snowstorm3
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jun 24, 1998Severe StormsMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1985Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 5, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 19, 1976Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 12
Apr 26, 1975Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1965Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster

Michigan also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 311 storm reports in Shiawassee County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 17 injuries and about $25.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965.

35tornadoes
55hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
207damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 11, 1965F4–0 / 0
Mar 14, 2019EF2Perry0 / 0
Apr 21, 1976F2–1 / 0
Apr 28, 1986F2–0 / 0
Apr 16, 1967F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 14, 2019TornadoPerry$10M
Jul 26, 2007HailDurand$5M
Apr 21, 1976Tornado–$3M
Apr 28, 1986Tornado–$3M
May 4, 2012Flash FloodWest Five Pts$1M
Aug 11, 2023TornadoPerry$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 15, 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 Shiawassee County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (215 policies)
28.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$106,288paid on 62 flood claims since 1978
1982costliest year, with $24,539 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 Shiawassee County

$171,600median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.4%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; 30,354 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
Genesee CountyModerate10
Ingham CountyModerate9
Livingston CountyLow6
Saginaw CountyModerate16
Clinton CountyLow8
Gratiot CountyLow10

Common questions about Shiawassee County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Shiawassee County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Shiawassee County, about $7.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $5.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Shiawassee County had?

Shiawassee County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Shiawassee County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 30th 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 Shiawassee County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Shiawassee 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 Shiawassee County had?

NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Shiawassee County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 55 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.