riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Marquette County Disaster Risk

Marquette County, Michigan

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

70th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#24

of 83 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

59th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 59% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 69% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 22% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 2% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 0% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Marquette County

Risk Verdict

Marquette County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 70th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Marquette County, scoring in the 69th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 59th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (22th), earthquake (2th), hurricane (0th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Marquette County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as flood 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

Marquette County is significantly riskier than the average county in Michigan. Its composite risk score is 20.2 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

Is your home insured against Marquette County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Marquette County, MI?
Marquette County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 70th 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 Marquette County?
Marquette County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (69th percentile), flooding (59th percentile), tornado (22th percentile), earthquake (2th percentile), hurricane (0th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 69th 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 Marquette County risk compare to the Michigan average?
Marquette County's composite risk percentile is 70th, compared to the Michigan state average of 50th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Marquette County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Michigan.
Is Marquette County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Marquette County's wildfire risk is at the 69th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Marquette County is at the 59th percentile.
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.
Why is Marquette County higher risk than average?
Marquette County's composite risk score of 70th percentile is above the Michigan state average of 50th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (69th percentile), along with flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Mecosta County

Michigan

+0.1

Relatively Low

70th percentile

Lenawee County

Michigan

+0.2

Relatively Low

70th percentile

Muskegon County

Michigan

+0.3

Relatively Low

70th 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.

Explore more data for Marquette County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score