Benzie County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Benzie County has experienced 6 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.
Benzie County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, cold wave, and landslide, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (8th 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. Benzie County has been designated in 6 declarations since 1977, covering 5 disaster types including biological (2), flood (1), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 | 12.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 37.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 27.2 | 4 | 0 | $145K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 5.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 16.1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 17.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 8.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 9.6 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 18.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 86.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 3.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 75.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 27.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 71.3 | 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
Benzie County ranks in the 8th percentile (Very 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 | 8th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 25th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 5th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 19th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 11th | Very 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 | 15th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 15th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 85.2% | — |
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 Benzie County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Benzie County, Michigan are winter weather, cold wave, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Benzie County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Benzie County has received 6 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Benzie County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Benzie County include Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does Benzie County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Grand Traverse County, MI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Lake County, MI has the lowest (Very Low). Benzie County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Benzie County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Benzie 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. Benzie County's composite score of 23 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 23% of US counties.