Michigan natural disasters & FEMA declarations
MI · 46th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Michigan has had 45 federally declared disasters since 1953, the 46th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Flood (13 declarations, about 29% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Winter Storm" (Severe Ice Storm), on Jul 22, 2025.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Michigan, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | 13 | 29% |
| Severe Storm | 10 | 22% |
| Tornado | 6 | 13% |
| Snowstorm | 5 | 11% |
| Dam/Levee Break | 2 | 4% |
| Biological | 2 | 4% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 1 | 2% |
| Toxic Substances | 1 | 2% |
| Hurricane | 1 | 2% |
| Other | 1 | 2% |
| Fire | 1 | 2% |
| Freezing | 1 | 2% |
| Drought | 1 | 2% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 34 |
| Emergency (EM) | 10 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 1 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Michigan's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 3 |
| 1960s | 1 |
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 7 |
| 2000s | 7 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 7 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2025 | Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880-MI |
| Feb 8, 2024 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Flood | DR-4757-MI |
| Jul 15, 2021 | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | DR-4607-MI |
| Jul 9, 2020 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Dam/Levee Break | DR-4547-MI |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Dam/Levee Break | EM-3525-MI |
| Mar 27, 2020 | Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | DR-4494-MI |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Michigan
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Michigan in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Michigan had?
Michigan has had 45 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1953, the 46th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Michigan?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Michigan is "Flood", with 13 declarations — about 29% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Michigan?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Michigan in this snapshot was "Severe Winter Storm" (Severe Ice Storm), declared Jul 22, 2025.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18