Oakland County
Michigan — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
Oakland County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 97.5, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $359M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | Very High | 0.39 / yr | $102M |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.81 / yr | $6M |
| Cold Wave | Very High | 2.63 / yr | $55M |
| Strong Wind | Very High | 5.46 / yr | $9M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.07 / yr | $165M |
| Heat Wave | High | 4.21 / yr | $13M |
| Hail | Medium | 2.77 / yr | $3M |
| Winter Weather | High | 11.84 / yr | $557K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M |
| Lightning | High | 34.76 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.27 / yr | $16K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $93K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $99K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Oakland County?
Oakland County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.5 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 98th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Oakland County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Very High, $102M EAL), Ice Storm (Very High, $6M EAL), Cold Wave (Very High, $55M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Oakland County compare to other Michigan counties?
Oakland County ranks #2 of 83 Michigan counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
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. Oakland County's $359M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.