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Tuscola County, Michigan

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

Relatively Low overall risk
18th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$28Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Tuscola County, Michigan has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 73% of US counties. It ranks 18th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $28 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $518 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (97 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.0 million on 133 claims here, including $470,000 for floods in 1986.

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

Top risks in Tuscola County

$16.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5.1 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate79.2
$16M
Cold waveModerate87.7
$5M
TornadoModerate74.4
$3M
Strong windHigh90.3
$2M
HailLow67.3
$436K
Winter weatherHigh89.8
$353K
Heat waveLow43.9
$240K
LightningLow48.9
$196K
Ice stormModerate69.4
$185K
EarthquakeVery Low33.6
$88K
HurricaneVery Low49.1
$59K
Coastal floodingVery Low32.4
$6K
WildfireVery Low16.0
$5K
LandslideVery Low42.7
$699

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 Tuscola County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Severe Storm2
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jul 23, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 1985Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 19, 1976Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Icing & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 12, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 1, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 345 storm reports in Tuscola County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $15.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on June 22, 2015 near Tuscola.

22tornadoes
89hail reports, largest 2 inches
223damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 22, 2015EF2Tuscola0 / 0
Apr 11, 1965F2–0 / 0
May 24, 1971F2–1 / 0
Jun 15, 1982F2–0 / 0
Aug 7, 1984F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 21, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$7M
May 25, 2019FloodReese$4M
Jun 22, 2015TornadoTuscola$550K
Jul 6, 1994HailCaro$500K
Oct 19, 2007TornadoMillington$500K
Oct 19, 2007TornadoDeford$400K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1955, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Tuscola County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with top winds near 45 mph about 57 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1955most recent: Connie

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 14, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Tuscola County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (97 policies)
11.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1 millionpaid on 133 flood claims since 1978
1986costliest year, with $470,381 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 Tuscola County

$149,500median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.9%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; 24,011 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
Saginaw CountyModerate16
Bay CountyLow12
Lapeer CountyLow8
Sanilac CountyLow10
Huron CountyLow6

Common questions about Tuscola County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tuscola County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Tuscola County, about $16.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $5.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Tuscola County had?

Tuscola County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Tuscola County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 18th 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 Tuscola County?

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

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Tuscola County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on June 22, 2015 near Tuscola. The weather service has also logged 89 hail reports and 10 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Tuscola County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Tuscola County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Connie (1955), with winds near 45 mph.

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.