Lenawee County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Lenawee County has experienced 6 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Lenawee County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, tornado, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Lenawee County has been designated in 6 declarations since 1965, covering 4 disaster types including biological (2), snowstorm (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1999 | Snowstorm | Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
| 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| 1965 | Tornado | Tornadoes & Severe Storms |
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 | 21.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 71.4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 62.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 55.2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 84.4 | 1 | 0 | $250K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 36.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 83.6 | 12 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 90.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 58.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 76.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 83 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 70.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 36.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 55.3 | 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
Lenawee County ranks in the 44th percentile (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 | 44th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 42nd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 37th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 42nd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 54th | 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 | 3rd | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 3rd | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 42.6% | — |
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 Lenawee County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Lenawee County, Michigan are strong wind, tornado, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Lenawee County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Lenawee County has received 6 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Lenawee County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Lenawee County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Lenawee County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lucas County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Fulton County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Lenawee County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Lenawee County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Lenawee 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. Lenawee County's composite score of 70 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 70% of US counties.