Lake County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Lake County has experienced 9 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Lake County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, strong wind, and landslide, 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. Lake County has been designated in 9 declarations since 1977, covering 6 disaster types including flood (3), biological (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1986 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1985 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 | 43.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 40.6 | 1 | 0 | $800K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 12.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 22 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 23.7 | 2 | 0 | $200K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 14.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 9.4 | 4 | 0 | $25K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 79.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 84 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 21.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 37.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 39.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 69.2 | 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
Lake 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 | 93rd | High |
| Household characteristics | 31st | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 51st | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 53rd | Moderate |
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 | 29th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 31st | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 90.6% | — |
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 Lake County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Lake County, Michigan are winter weather, strong wind, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Lake County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Lake County has received 9 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is flood (3 declarations).
Has Lake County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Lake County include Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does Lake County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Mecosta County, MI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Osceola County, MI has the lowest (Very Low). Lake County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Lake County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Lake 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. Lake County's composite score of 22 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 22% of US counties.