Schoolcraft County, Michigan Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MI
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 7th
Schoolcraft County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 6.7, 7th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $3M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Schoolcraft County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 6.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 7th 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 Low risk — $207K in expected annual loss and about 22.76 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $821 in expected annual loss and about 0.18 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $17K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $3M in expected annual loss for a population of 8K.
Beyond physical exposure, Schoolcraft County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: Schoolcraft County has received 6 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 2 for biological events and 1 for hurricane events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 83 Michigan counties, Schoolcraft County ranks #80 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Low | 22.76 / yr | $207K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.18 / yr | $821 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $17K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.14 / yr | $392K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $3M |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.50 / yr | $64K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.55 / yr | $133 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 27.03 / yr | $6K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $41K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.45 / yr | $50K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $2K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $1K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $866 |
| Avalanche | 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
Schoolcraft County has received 6 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (2), Hurricane (1), Freezing (1).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 1994 | Freezing | Severe Deep Freeze |
| 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 Schoolcraft County?
Schoolcraft County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 6.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 7th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Schoolcraft County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Low, $207K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $821 EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $17K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Schoolcraft County compare to other Michigan counties?
Schoolcraft County ranks #80 of 83 Michigan counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Schoolcraft County had?
FEMA records 6 federal disaster declarations for Schoolcraft County since 1977, most often 2 for biological events and 1 for hurricane 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. Schoolcraft County's $3M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.