Alger County

Michigan — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

9.6

National percentile: 10th

Alger County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 9.6, 10th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $4M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience High Capacity to recover
Population 9K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Lightning
High $639K/yr
Landslide
Low $4K/yr
Hail
Low $302K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Lightning High 21.62 / yr $639K
Landslide Low 0.24 / yr $4K
Hail Low 0.62 / yr $302K
Cold Wave Low 1.69 / yr $464K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $10K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.18 / yr $2M
Winter Weather Very Low 42.91 / yr $14K
Drought Very Low 1.34 / yr $1K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.07 / yr $9K
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.01 / yr $0
Strong Wind Very Low 0.61 / yr $99K
Tornado Very Low 0.11 / yr $42K
Heat Wave Very Low 0.16 / yr $4K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $800
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Hurricane Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Alger County?

Alger County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 9.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 10th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Alger County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $639K EAL), Landslide (Low, $4K EAL), Hail (Low, $302K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Alger County compare to other Michigan counties?

Alger County ranks #78 of 83 Michigan counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Alger County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.