riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Otsego County Disaster Risk

Otsego County, Michigan

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

18th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#71

of 83 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

29th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 29% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 45% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 28% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 10% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 18% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Otsego County

Risk Verdict

Otsego County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 18th 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

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Otsego County, scoring in the 45th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 29th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (28th), hurricane (18th), earthquake (10th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Otsego 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

Otsego County is notably safer than the average county in Michigan. Its composite risk score is 31.1 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 Otsego County, MI?
Otsego County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 18th 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 Otsego County?
Otsego County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (45th percentile), flooding (29th percentile), tornado (28th percentile), hurricane (18th percentile), earthquake (10th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 45th 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 Otsego County risk compare to the Michigan average?
Otsego County's composite risk percentile is 18th, compared to the Michigan state average of 50th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Otsego County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Michigan.
Is Otsego County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Otsego County's wildfire risk is at the 45th percentile nationally. This is below the national median, indicating relatively lower exposure. For flooding specifically, Otsego County is at the 29th 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.
Is Otsego County a safe place to live?
Otsego County's composite risk score of 18th 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 wildfire at the 45th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Crawford County

Michigan

-0.4

Very Low

18th percentile

Alcona County

Michigan

-0.7

Very Low

18th percentile

Arenac County

Michigan

+1.9

Very Low

20th 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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