Genesee County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Genesee County has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1975, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Genesee County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, cold wave, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 36% 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. Genesee County has been designated in 14 declarations since 1975, covering 7 disaster types including flood (4), severe storm (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Toxic Substances | Contaminated Water |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2003 | Other | Power Outage |
| 2001 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes,And Flooding |
| 1986 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1985 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 total declarations since 1975.
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 | 25.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 92.6 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 70.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 85.6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 98.5 | 6 | 0 | $2.2M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 45.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 91.1 | 18 | 0 | $20.0M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 97.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 59 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 89.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 98.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 89.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 52.6 | 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
Genesee County ranks in the 66th 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 | 66th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 64th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 74th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 65th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 47th | 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 | 7th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 7th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 36.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 33 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 14 in 2016–20 vs 19 in 2021–25 (+36% — 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 Genesee County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Genesee County, Michigan are tornado, cold wave, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Genesee County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Genesee County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (4 declarations).
Has Genesee County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Genesee County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Genesee County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Oakland County, MI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Shiawassee County, MI has the lowest (Relatively Low). Genesee County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Genesee County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Genesee 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. Genesee County's composite score of 92 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 92% of US counties.