As climate change drives weather to greater extremes, and devastating hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, and blizzards preoccupy an increasing number of Americans, it is hard to avoid comparing the reality of everyday news coverage to the computer-generated images seen in disaster movies.
Over the last 50 years, natural disasters have become five times more common due to climate change, according to the World Meteorological Organization. They've also become more economically debilitating—the five most expensive climate disasters in American history have all taken place over the last two decades.
The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters means that the need for emergency evacuation and shelter plans has never been greater. According to the Federal Emergency Management Association, understanding your climate risk, or proximity to probable natural disaster, is an important first step for making a plan. Tools like the Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation allow you to assess your risk by location.
Knowing where nearby emergency shelters are located is another way to prepare for the worst. In the event of flooding, hurricane-level winds, or other disasters, emergency shelters offer a place to sleep, and also often provide food, water, and first aid services. Stacker examined the Department of Homeland Security's National Shelter System Facilities database to identify the counties with the most emergency shelters in Michigan. Counties are ranked by emergency shelters per 100K people, with total capacity per 100K people serving as a tiebreaker.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the total emergency shelter capacity in each county. Due to the variable availability of that data for each shelter, the data point has been removed from the updated version.
RomanKahler // Wikimedia Commons
1 / 50#50. Ontonagon County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 34.0 (2 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons
2 / 50#49. Menominee County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 34.1 (8 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
User:My name // Wikimedia Commons
3 / 50#48. Charlevoix County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 34.5 (9 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 1
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Joshuay04 // Wikimedia Commons
4 / 50#47. Livingston County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 34.7 (67 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 5
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
5 / 50#46. Monroe County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 35.7 (55 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 5
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 1
battlecreekcvb // Wikimedia Commons
6 / 50#45. Calhoun County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 35.8 (48 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 1
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
P199 // Wikimedia Commons
7 / 50#44. Chippewa County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 37.7 (14 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons
8 / 50#43. Crawford County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 38.2 (5 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Gpwitteveen // Wikimedia Commons
9 / 50#42. Ottawa County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 38.8 (114 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 15
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
stanthejeep // Wikimedia Commons
10 / 50#41. Grand Traverse County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 39.1 (37 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Andrew Jameson // Wikimedia Commons
11 / 50#40. Bay County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 40.4 (42 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
12 / 50#39. Wexford County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 41.7 (14 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 1
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 50#38. Gladwin County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 43.4 (11 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 1
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Michigan Department of Natural Resources // Wikimedia Commons
14 / 50#37. Sanilac County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 44.1 (18 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 50#36. Kalkaska County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 44.9 (8 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
kennethaw88 // Wikimedia Commons
16 / 50#35. Clinton County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 45.6 (36 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 2
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 3
Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
17 / 50#34. Newaygo County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 46.3 (23 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 4
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons
18 / 50#33. Manistee County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 48.1 (12 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 1
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Elevatorrailfan // Wikimedia Commons
19 / 50#32. Ogemaw County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 48.2 (10 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Phillip L. Hofmeister // Wikimedia Commons
20 / 50#31. Jackson County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 48.5 (78 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
USFWSmidwest // Wikimedia Commons
21 / 50#30. Oscoda County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 48.7 (4 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Russell Sekeet (amtrak_russ) // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 50#29. Berrien County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 50.6 (78 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 4
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Nick Nolte // Wikimedia Commons
23 / 50#28. Iosco County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 51.5 (13 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 1
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
kennethaw88 // Wikimedia Commons
24 / 50#27. Tuscola County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 52.5 (28 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 4
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 1
Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons
25 / 50#26. Missaukee County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 53.2 (8 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
daBinsi // Wikimedia Commons
26 / 50#25. Shiawassee County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 54.2 (37 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 2
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 4
Cwbash (Charles W. Bash) // Wikimedia Commons
27 / 50#24. Cheboygan County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 54.6 (14 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Dwight Burdette // Wikimedia Commons
28 / 50#23. Lenawee County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 55.4 (55 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 3
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
US Army Corps of Engineer // Wikimedia Commons
29 / 50#22. Benzie County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 55.8 (10 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons
30 / 50#21. Cass County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 58.1 (30 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons
31 / 50#20. Hillsdale County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 61.3 (28 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 1
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Doug Coldwell // Wikimedia Commons
32 / 50#19. Mecosta County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 62.4 (25 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons
33 / 50#18. Roscommon County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 63.9 (15 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 4
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Lawrence G. Miller // Wikimedia Commons
34 / 50#17. Van Buren County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 64.9 (49 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
David Coats // Wikimedia Commons
35 / 50#16. Presque Isle County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 69.4 (9 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 1
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Unknown author // Wikimedia Commons
36 / 50#15. Gratiot County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 71.8 (30 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 3
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
37 / 50#14. Luce County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 72.5 (4 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Doug Coldwell // Wikimedia Commons
38 / 50#13. Mason County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 79.0 (23 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 1
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Dylan L. Tanner // Wikimedia Commons
39 / 50#12. Alpena County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 79.5 (23 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 1
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Alexey Stiop // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Leelanau County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 94.4 (21 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 1
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons
41 / 50#10. Antrim County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 102.4 (24 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 1
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons
42 / 50#9. Oceana County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 105.4 (28 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 3
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Charles Bash // Wikimedia Commons
43 / 50#8. Huron County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 107.8 (34 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
O. David Redwine // Wikimedia Commons
44 / 50#7. Midland County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 110.2 (92 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 12
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Jeffness // Wikimedia Commons
45 / 50#6. Mackinac County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 120.2 (13 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Henry Schenck Tanner // Wikimedia Commons
46 / 50#5. Montmorency County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 130.9 (12 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons
47 / 50#4. Alcona County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 138.1 (14 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 2
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
48 / 50#3. Osceola County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 139.6 (32 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 0
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons
49 / 50#2. Lake County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 147.0 (18 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 1
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 0
Ian Poellet (User:Werewombat) // Wikimedia Commons
50 / 50#1. Arenac County
- Emergency shelters per 100K people: 153.2 (23 shelters in database)
- Shelters listed with generators: 2
- Shelters listed in 100-year floodplain: 1
