Baraga County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Baraga County has experienced 7 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.
Baraga County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, hail, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 73% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Baraga County has been designated in 7 declarations since 1977, covering 5 disaster types including biological (2), flood (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002 | Flood | Flooding |
| 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 | 15.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 13.3 | 5 | 0 | $9.8M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 29.6 | 2 | 0 | $30K |
| Earthquake | No Rating | 0 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 7.6 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 6.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 68.9 | 17 | 0 | $10.0M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 22.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 49.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 12.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 72.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 31.6 | 1 | 0 | $2K |
| Drought | Very Low | 20.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 23.5 | 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
Baraga 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 | 30th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 20th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 64th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 70th | 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 | 35th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 35th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 79.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 30 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 11 in 2016–20 vs 19 in 2021–25 (+73% — 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 Baraga County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Baraga County, Michigan are cold wave, hail, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Baraga County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Baraga County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Baraga County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Baraga County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Baraga 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 Keweenaw County, MI has the lowest (Very Low). Baraga County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Baraga County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Baraga 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. Baraga County's composite score of 11 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 11% of US counties.