Luce County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Luce County has experienced 5 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.
Luce County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, wildfire, and hail, with its top risk rated "Very Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Luce 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 | 45.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 15.5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 13.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 2.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 3.3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 3.7 | 1 | 0 | $5K |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 26 | 11 | 0 | $1.0M |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 6.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 14.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 2.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 16.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 24.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 13.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 49.1 | 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
Luce County ranks in the 53rd 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 | 53rd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 50th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 57th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 52nd | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 50th | 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 | 40th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 45th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 74.4% | — |
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 Luce County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Luce County, Michigan are landslide, wildfire, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Luce County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Luce 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 Luce County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Luce County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Luce County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Emmet County, MI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Schoolcraft County, MI has the lowest (Very Low). Luce County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Luce County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Luce 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. Luce County's composite score of 3 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 3% of US counties.