Dickinson County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Dickinson County has experienced 5 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Dickinson County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, hail, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 27 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is relatively low (9th 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. Dickinson County has been designated in 5 declarations since 1977, covering 4 disaster types including biological (2), hurricane (1), snowstorm (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 27.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 38.7 | 5 | 0 | $307K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 13 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 25.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 80.3 | 18 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 24.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 52.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 20 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 96.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 56.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 19.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 25.3 | 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
Dickinson County ranks in the 9th 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 | 9th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 6th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 18th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 12th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 36th | 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 | 46th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 45th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 49.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 27 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 13 in 2016–20 vs 14 in 2021–25 (+8% — 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 Dickinson County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Dickinson County, Michigan are cold wave, hail, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Dickinson County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Dickinson County has received 5 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Dickinson County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Dickinson County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Dickinson County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Marinette County, WI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Menominee County, MI has the lowest (Relatively Low). Dickinson County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Dickinson County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Dickinson 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. Dickinson County's composite score of 59 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 59% of US counties.