Midland County, MI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Midland County has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1975, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Midland County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, winter weather, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 84% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (17th 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. Midland County has been designated in 14 declarations since 1975, covering 6 disaster types including flood (4), severe storm (3), dam/levee break (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2013 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1986 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 total declarations since 1975.
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 | 32.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 76.9 | 9 | 0 | $326.4M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 36.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 52 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 80.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 34.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 76 | 11 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 92.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 91.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 57.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 84.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 53.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 29.8 | 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
Midland County ranks in the 17th 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 | 17th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 15th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 13th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 29th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 44th | 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 | 12th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 58.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 22 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 19 in 2016–20 vs 3 in 2021–25 (-84% — frequency decreasing).
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 Midland County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Midland County, Michigan are strong wind, winter weather, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Midland County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Midland County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (4 declarations).
Has Midland County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Midland County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Midland County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Saginaw County, MI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Gladwin County, MI has the lowest (Very Low). Midland County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Midland County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Midland 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. Midland County's composite score of 72 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 72% of US counties.