Mackinac County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Mackinac County has experienced 7 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2025. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Mackinac County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, wildfire, and cold wave, 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. Mackinac County has been designated in 7 declarations since 1977, covering 6 disaster types including biological (2), severe ice storm (1), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 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 | 47.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 29.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 36.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 6.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 4.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 9.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 15.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 12.7 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 5.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 15.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 3.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 42.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 31.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 52.7 | 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
Mackinac County ranks in the 62nd 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 | 62nd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 60th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 45th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 64th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 65th | 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 | 46th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 43rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 73.9% | — |
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 Mackinac County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Mackinac County, Michigan are landslide, wildfire, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Mackinac County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Mackinac County has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2025. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Mackinac County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Mackinac County include Severe Winter Storm (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does Mackinac County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Cheboygan County, MI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Luce County, MI has the lowest (Very Low). Mackinac County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Mackinac County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Mackinac 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. Mackinac County's composite score of 9 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 9% of US counties.