Alpena County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Alpena County has experienced 7 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Alpena County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, inland flooding, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Alpena County has been designated in 7 declarations since 1977, covering 6 disaster types including biological (2), flood (1), severe ice storm (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 | 15.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 51 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 36 | 1 | 0 | $8K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 16.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 24.6 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 24.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 26.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 27.9 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 14.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 15.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 15.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 62.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 41.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 25.6 | 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
Alpena County ranks in the 42nd 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 | 42nd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 50th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 46th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 9th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 46th | Low |
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 | 14th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 15th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 56.6% | — |
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 Alpena County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Alpena County, Michigan are cold wave, inland flooding, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Alpena County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Alpena County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Alpena County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Alpena County include Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026), Severe Winter Storm (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does Alpena County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Iosco County, MI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Oscoda County, MI has the lowest (Very Low). Alpena County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Alpena County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Alpena 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. Alpena County's composite score of 28 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 28% of US counties.