Leelanau County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Leelanau 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.
Leelanau County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, winter weather, and landslide, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (1st 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. Leelanau 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 | 14.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 42.1 | 3 | 0 | $10K |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 37 | 3 | 0 | $179K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 3.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 17.5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 19.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 11.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 39.5 | 7 | 0 | $85K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 25.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 90.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 5.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 92.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 31.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 79.4 | 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
Leelanau County ranks in the 1st 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 | 1st | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 3rd | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 7th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 30th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 2nd | Very 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 | 13th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 13th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 80.7% | — |
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 Leelanau County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Leelanau County, Michigan are cold wave, winter weather, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Leelanau County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Leelanau 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 Leelanau County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Leelanau County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Leelanau County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Grand Traverse County, MI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Kalkaska County, MI has the lowest (Very Low). Leelanau County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Leelanau County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Leelanau 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. Leelanau County's composite score of 48 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 48% of US counties.