Branch County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Branch County has experienced 6 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Branch County's highest-rated hazards are hail, tornado, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (72nd percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Branch County has been designated in 6 declarations since 1965, covering 4 disaster types including biological (2), snowstorm (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1965 | Tornado | Tornadoes & Severe Storms |
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 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 60.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 55.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 37.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 74.2 | 6 | 3 | $175K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 35 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 79.9 | 5 | 0 | $16K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 72.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 37 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 60.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 60.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 53.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 60.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 37.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Branch County ranks in the 72nd 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 | 72nd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 59th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 69th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 32nd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 89th | High |
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 | 3rd | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 3rd | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 39.2% | — |
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 Branch County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Branch County, Michigan are hail, tornado, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Branch County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Branch County has received 6 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Branch County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Branch County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Branch County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Kalamazoo County, MI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Steuben County, IN has the lowest (Very Low). Branch County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Branch County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Branch 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. Branch County's composite score of 52 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 52% of US counties.