Gladwin County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Gladwin County has experienced 12 federally declared disasters since 1976, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Gladwin County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, strong wind, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Gladwin County has been designated in 12 declarations since 1976, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (3), dam/levee break (2), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2001 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1986 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 12 total declarations since 1976.
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 | 38.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 53.9 | 6 | 0 | $17.7M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 22.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 18.5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 49 | 1 | 0 | $100K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 22.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 54.3 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 68.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 82.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 35.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 67.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 65.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 41 | 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
Gladwin County ranks in the 52nd 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 | 52nd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 71st | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 43rd | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 8th | Very low |
| 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 | 24th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 24th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 75.4% | — |
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 Gladwin County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Gladwin County, Michigan are winter weather, strong wind, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Gladwin County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Gladwin County has received 12 federal disaster declarations since 1976, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (3 declarations).
Has Gladwin County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Gladwin County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Gladwin County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Bay County, MI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Arenac County, MI has the lowest (Very Low). Gladwin County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Gladwin County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Gladwin 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. Gladwin County's composite score of 40 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 40% of US counties.