Berrien County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Berrien County has experienced 12 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Berrien County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, hail, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 38 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Berrien County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1973, covering 5 disaster types including flood (5), snowstorm (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2001 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1999 | Snowstorm | Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
| 1982 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1980 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1975 | Flood | Severe Storms, High Winds & Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 total declarations since 1973.
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 | 23.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 86 | 10 | 0 | $9.8M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 38.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 71.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 65.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 83.4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 31.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 89.7 | 27 | 0 | $5K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 95 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 75.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 47.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 88.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 61.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 61.2 | 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
Berrien County ranks in the 63rd percentile (Moderate) 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 | 63rd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 62nd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 57th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 62nd | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 57th | 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 | 7th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 7th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 47.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 38 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 19 in 2016–20 vs 19 in 2021–25 (0% — relatively stable).
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 Berrien County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Berrien County, Michigan are strong wind, hail, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Berrien County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Berrien County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (5 declarations).
Has Berrien County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Berrien County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Berrien County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lake County, IN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Starke County, IN has the lowest (Very Low). Berrien County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Berrien County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Berrien 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. Berrien County's composite score of 82 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 82% of US counties.