Alger County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Alger County has experienced 5 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Alger County's highest-rated hazards are lightning, landslide, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 39% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (29th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Alger County has been designated in 5 declarations since 1977, covering 4 disaster types including biological (2), hurricane (1), snowstorm (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1977 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 28.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 22 | 6 | 0 | $1.1M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 15.4 | 1 | 0 | $50K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 4.8 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 9.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 60.7 | 30 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 15.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 20.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 16.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 37.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 82.5 | 1 | 0 | $20K |
| Drought | Very Low | 16.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 67.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Alger County ranks in the 29th percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 29th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 21st | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 11th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 49th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 69th | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 32nd | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 35th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 79.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 43 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 18 in 2016–20 vs 25 in 2021–25 (+39% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Alger County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Alger County, Michigan are lightning, landslide, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Alger County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Alger County has received 5 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Alger County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Alger County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Alger County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Marquette County, MI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Luce County, MI has the lowest (Very Low). Alger County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Alger County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Alger County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Alger County's composite score of 10 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 10% of US counties.