St. Clair County

Michigan — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Medium

Composite Risk Score

82.0

National percentile: 82th

St. Clair County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 82.0, 82th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $49M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $49M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very High Capacity to recover
Population 160K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Cold Wave
High $10M/yr
Tornado
Medium $6M/yr
Ice Storm
High $705K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Cold Wave High 3.00 / yr $10M
Tornado Medium 0.21 / yr $6M
Ice Storm High 1.90 / yr $705K
Riverine Flood Medium 1.04 / yr $29M
Strong Wind High 3.52 / yr $2M
Heat Wave Low 2.37 / yr $733K
Winter Weather Low 12.89 / yr $88K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $305K
Hail Low 1.66 / yr $256K
Coastal Flood Low 0.01 / yr $57K
Lightning Low 32.26 / yr $199K
Landslide Very Low 0.10 / yr $589
Hurricane Very Low 0.02 / yr $24K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $19K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Drought 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 St. Clair County?

St. Clair County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 82.0 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 82th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in St. Clair County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (High, $10M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $6M EAL), Ice Storm (High, $705K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does St. Clair County compare to other Michigan counties?

St. Clair County ranks #11 of 83 Michigan counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium 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. St. Clair County's $49M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.