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Marion County, Arkansas

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
49th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$10Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Ice storm

Very High
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow43.1
$3M
Ice stormVery High99.0
$2M
Cold waveModerate69.2
$1M
TornadoLow55.8
$966K
Strong windModerate59.4
$463K
EarthquakeLow65.7
$402K
Heat waveLow61.0
$388K
LightningModerate61.4
$225K
WildfireLow65.0
$77K
HailVery Low20.8
$48K
Winter weatherLow54.2
$47K
LandslideLow81.6
$12K
HurricaneVery Low32.8
$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

Severe Storm15
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane2
Drought1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
May 30, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Jun 15, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 4, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 26
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 7, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 7, 2004Sever Storms, Flooding and LandslidesMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1996Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 15, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jan 27, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 15, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

23tornadoes
126hail reports, largest 4 inches
143damaging thunderstorm winds
44floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 18, 1985F3–13 / 3
May 7, 1961F3–9 / 3
May 7, 1961F3–1 / 0
Dec 14, 1971F3–8 / 0
May 26, 2024EF2Eros0 / 3

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 18, 1985Tornado–$25M
Aug 1, 2012Thunderstorm WindBull Shoals$3M
May 7, 1961Tornado–$3M
May 7, 1961Tornado–$3M
Feb 5, 2008TornadoWare'S Chapel$2M
Apr 22, 1996TornadoYellville$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph8 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph8 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 ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (11 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 9 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $1 million paid

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

$163,300median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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 countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Pulaski CountyHighInland flooding
Benton CountyModerateInland flooding
Washington CountyModerateHeat wave
Sebastian CountyModerateInland flooding
Faulkner CountyModerateTornado
Saline CountyLowInland flooding
Craighead CountyModerateEarthquake
Garland CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Taney County, MOModerate21
Baxter CountyLow19
Boone CountyLow21
Ozark County, MOVery Low25
Searcy CountyVery Low24

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.