Keweenaw County, Michigan Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MI
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 1th
Keweenaw County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 0.7, 1th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $609K.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Keweenaw County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 0.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 1st 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.
Most of Keweenaw County's expected losses come from winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Low risk — $28K in expected annual loss and about 38.21 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $3K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and coastal flood (seawater inundation from storm surge, high tides, and rising sea levels) at Very Low risk — $0 in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $609K in expected annual loss for a population of 2K.
Beyond physical exposure, Keweenaw County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The federal record bears this out: Keweenaw County has received 5 federal disaster declarations since 1978, including 2 for biological events and 1 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 83 Michigan counties, Keweenaw County ranks #83 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | Low | 38.21 / yr | $28K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $3K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 1.56 / yr | $3 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.53 / yr | $62K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $3K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.24 / yr | $12K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $475K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.20 / yr | $4 |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.32 / yr | $17K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $935 |
| Lightning | Very Low | 17.85 / yr | $6K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $1K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Keweenaw County has received 5 federal disaster declarations since 1978, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (2), Flood (1), Hurricane (1).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2013 | Flood | Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Keweenaw County?
Keweenaw County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 0.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 1th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Keweenaw County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (Low, $28K EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $3K EAL), Coastal Flood (Very Low, $0 EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Keweenaw County compare to other Michigan counties?
Keweenaw County ranks #83 of 83 Michigan counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Keweenaw County had?
FEMA records 5 federal disaster declarations for Keweenaw County since 1978, most often 2 for biological events and 1 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in March 2020.
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. Keweenaw County's $609K EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.