Gogebic County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Gogebic County has experienced 9 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Gogebic County's highest-rated hazards are lightning, winter weather, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 15% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (24th 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. Gogebic County has been designated in 9 declarations since 1977, covering 6 disaster types including flood (3), biological (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2013 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1994 | Freezing | Severe Deep Freeze |
| 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 | 14.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 30.2 | 8 | 0 | $25.4M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 13.4 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 11.4 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 19 | 2 | 0 | $150K |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 34.9 | 13 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 47 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 80.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 28.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 77.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 83.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 13.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 17 | 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
Gogebic County ranks in the 24th 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 | 24th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 32nd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 17th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 26th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 35th | 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 | 16th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 16th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 63.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 28 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 13 in 2016–20 vs 15 in 2021–25 (+15% — 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 Gogebic County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Gogebic County, Michigan are lightning, winter weather, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Gogebic County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Gogebic County has received 9 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (3 declarations).
Has Gogebic County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Gogebic County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Gogebic County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Vilas County, WI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Ontonagon County, MI has the lowest (Very Low). Gogebic County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Gogebic County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Gogebic 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. Gogebic County's composite score of 26 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 26% of US counties.