riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Houghton County Disaster Risk

Houghton County, Michigan

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

24th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#63

of 83 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

43th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 43% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 23% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 6% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 0% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 0% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Houghton County

Risk Verdict

Houghton County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 24th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Flood risk is the dominant hazard for Houghton County, scoring in the 43th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 23th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (6th), earthquake (0th), hurricane (0th).

Preparedness Context

With flood risk as the top concern, Houghton County residents should review flood insurance needs (standard home insurance does not cover flood damage), know your evacuation zone, and keep important documents waterproofed. Secondary risks such as wildfire also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Houghton County is notably safer than the average county in Michigan. Its composite risk score is 25.3 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Houghton County, MI?
Houghton County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 24th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Houghton County?
Houghton County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: flooding (43th percentile), wildfire (23th percentile), tornado (6th percentile), earthquake (0th percentile), hurricane (0th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is flooding at the 43th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Houghton County risk compare to the Michigan average?
Houghton County's composite risk percentile is 24th, compared to the Michigan state average of 50th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Houghton County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Michigan.
Is Houghton County at risk for flooding?
Yes, Houghton County's flooding risk is at the 43th percentile nationally. This is below the national median, indicating relatively lower exposure.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Houghton County a safe place to live?
Houghton County's composite risk score of 24th percentile is below the Michigan state average of 50th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is flooding at the 43th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Osceola County

Michigan

-0.4

Very Low

24th percentile

Mason County

Michigan

+1.0

Very Low

25th percentile

Gogebic County

Michigan

+1.3

Very Low

26th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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