Marion County, Arkansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Marion County, Arkansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 52% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, ice storms and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $9.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $583 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 11 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Marion County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
- Plan for several days without power.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 43.1 | $3M | ||
| Ice storm | 99.0 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 69.2 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 55.8 | $966K | ||
| Strong wind | 59.4 | $463K | ||
| Earthquake | 65.7 | $402K | ||
| Heat wave | 61.0 | $388K | ||
| Lightning | 61.4 | $225K | ||
| Wildfire | 65.0 | $77K | ||
| Hail | 20.8 | $48K | ||
| Winter weather | 54.2 | $47K | ||
| Landslide | 81.6 | $12K | ||
| Hurricane | 32.8 | $11K |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Marion County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 26
Arkansas also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1961
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 343 storm reports in Marion County since 1961, with 10 deaths and 48 injuries and about $40.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on November 18, 1985.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 18, 1985 | F3 | – | 13 / 3 |
| May 7, 1961 | F3 | – | 9 / 3 |
| May 7, 1961 | F3 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Dec 14, 1971 | F3 | – | 8 / 0 |
| May 26, 2024 | EF2 | Eros | 0 / 3 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 18, 1985 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Aug 1, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bull Shoals | $3M |
| May 7, 1961 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 7, 1961 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Feb 5, 2008 | Tornado | Ware'S Chapel | $2M |
| Apr 22, 1996 | Tornado | Yellville | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 13, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 2008, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Marion County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 45 mph about 8 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 2008 | Ike | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 8 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 2008 | Ike | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 8 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Marion County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Marion County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 9,749 housing units.
Compare in Arkansas
All 75 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | Inland flooding | |
| Benton County | Inland flooding | |
| Washington County | Heat wave | |
| Sebastian County | Inland flooding | |
| Faulkner County | Tornado | |
| Saline County | Inland flooding | |
| Craighead County | Earthquake | |
| Garland County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Taney County, MO | 21 | |
| Baxter County | 19 | |
| Boone County | 21 | |
| Ozark County, MO | 25 | |
| Searcy County | 24 |
Common questions about Marion County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Marion County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Marion County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Ice storm is second at $2.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Marion County had?
Marion County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Marion County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 49th highest of 75 in Arkansas. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Marion County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Marion County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Marion County had?
NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Marion County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on November 18, 1985. The weather service has also logged 126 hail reports and 44 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Marion County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Marion County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with winds near 45 mph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.