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Wexford County, Michigan

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

Very Low overall risk
56th of 83highest risk in Michigan
$9Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wexford County, Michigan has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 56th of 83 counties in Michigan. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $9.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $278 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 40 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $616,000 on 16 claims here.

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

Top risks in Wexford County

$4.9 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Strong wind

Moderate
$537,077 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow45.0
$5M
Cold waveModerate75.4
$2M
Strong windModerate54.4
$537K
Winter weatherHigh93.9
$504K
TornadoLow32.1
$496K
HailLow49.4
$219K
LightningLow48.3
$189K
Heat waveVery Low25.2
$85K
WildfireVery Low40.8
$24K
EarthquakeVery Low16.9
$18K
Ice stormVery Low22.3
$17K
LandslideLow74.7
$8K
HurricaneVery Low13.8
$3K

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 Wexford County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Drought1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Severe Storm1
Flood1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 27, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Mar 2, 1977DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 126 storm reports in Wexford County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $2.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 31, 1963.

8tornadoes
38hail reports, largest 2 inches
68damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 31, 1963F2–0 / 0
Jun 7, 1974F2–1 / 0
Oct 15, 1989F1–0 / 0
Jun 15, 1976F1–0 / 0
Aug 4, 1968F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 12, 2008Flash FloodHoxeyville$750K
Oct 4, 2006TornadoBenson$260K
Jul 31, 1963Tornado–$250K
Oct 15, 1989Tornado–$250K
Apr 14, 2014FloodLake Cadillac$110K
Jun 13, 2008FloodHarrietta Bunch Arpt$40K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 31, 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 Wexford County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (40 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$615,518paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $595,420 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 Wexford County

$170,400median home value (Michigan $231,600, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Michigan 1972, US 1980)
52%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.6%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; 16,585 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
Grand Traverse CountyLow4
Manistee CountyVery Low6
Osceola CountyVery Low12
Benzie CountyVery Low4
Kalkaska CountyVery Low5
Missaukee CountyVery Low5
Lake CountyVery Low7

Common questions about Wexford County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wexford County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wexford County, about $4.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Wexford County had?

Wexford County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Wexford County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 56th 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 Wexford County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Wexford 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 Wexford County had?

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Wexford County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 31, 1963. The weather service has also logged 38 hail reports and 11 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.