Alcona County, Michigan Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MI
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 18th
Alcona County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 17.7, 18th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Alcona County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 17.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 18th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $216K in expected annual loss and about 25.31 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $1K in expected annual loss and about 0.18 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Low risk — $553K in expected annual loss and about 2.05 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 10K.
Beyond physical exposure, Alcona County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Alcona County has received 9 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 2 for flood events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (flood), declared in June 2026.
Among 83 Michigan counties, Alcona County ranks #73 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Medium | 25.31 / yr | $216K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.18 / yr | $1K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.05 / yr | $553K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.14 / yr | $4M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $20K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $10K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.87 / yr | $68K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $177K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.77 / yr | $84K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.84 / yr | $16K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $4K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 13.68 / yr | $2K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Alcona County has received 9 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026. Most frequent causes: Flood (2), Biological (2), Snowstorm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| July 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 1999 | Snowstorm | Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
| September 1985 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| January 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| March 1977 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Alcona County?
Alcona County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 17.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 18th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Alcona County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Medium, $216K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $1K EAL), Cold Wave (Low, $553K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Alcona County compare to other Michigan counties?
Alcona County ranks #73 of 83 Michigan counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Alcona County had?
FEMA records 9 federal disaster declarations for Alcona County since 1977, most often 2 for flood events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared in June 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Alcona County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.