Marion County, Georgia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Marion County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 93% of US counties. It ranks 145th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $2.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $304 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). Only 1 home here carries 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 12.8 | $997K | ||
| Drought | 71.2 | $355K | ||
| Tornado | 25.3 | $233K | ||
| Lightning | 62.6 | $231K | ||
| Hurricane | 61.4 | $149K | ||
| Heat wave | 34.2 | $107K | ||
| Strong wind | 11.6 | $55K | ||
| Earthquake | 30.5 | $50K | ||
| Hail | 21.2 | $48K | ||
| Wildfire | 49.5 | $29K | ||
| Cold wave | 4.9 | $10K | ||
| Ice storm | 6.3 | $2K | ||
| Winter weather | 2.2 | $770 | ||
| Landslide | 39.8 | $408 |
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 12
Georgia also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 114 storm reports in Marion County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 12 injuries and about $1.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 18, 1953.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1953 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Apr 30, 1953 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Dec 5, 1954 | F2 | – | 7 / 0 |
| Nov 21, 1997 | F1 | Draneville | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF1 | Oakland | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1953 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Feb 24, 1977 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Nov 21, 1997 | Tornado | Draneville | $150K |
| Apr 4, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Juniper | $150K |
| Jun 2, 2005 | Lightning | Buena Vista | $100K |
| Feb 17, 2008 | Tornado | Brantley | $75K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 12, 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 1851, 3 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Marion County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 90 mph about 59 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2018 | Michael | Category 1, 90 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 24, 1851 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 65 mi |
| Aug 31, 1856 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 10, 1882 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 60 mi |
| Oct 3, 1898 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 63 mi |
| Jul 8, 1896 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 56 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 2021 | Fred | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 10, 2018 | Michael | Category 1, 90 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 11, 2017 | Irma | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 60 mi |
| Jun 15, 1965 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 48 mi |
| Oct 19, 1950 | King | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 12, 1940 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 62 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; 3,544 housing units.
Compare in Georgia
All 159 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | Inland flooding | |
| Gwinnett County | Inland flooding | |
| Cobb County | Inland flooding | |
| DeKalb County | Inland flooding | |
| Clayton County | Inland flooding | |
| Chatham County | Hurricane | |
| Cherokee County | Inland flooding | |
| Forsyth County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Sumter County | 13 | |
| Chattahoochee County | 10 | |
| Taylor County | 14 | |
| Talbot County | 15 | |
| Stewart County | 15 | |
| Schley County | 11 | |
| Webster County | 15 |
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 $997,448 a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $355,388.
How many federal disasters has Marion County had?
Marion County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.
Is Marion County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 145th highest of 159 in Georgia. 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. 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 11 tornadoes in Marion County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 18, 1953. The weather service has also logged 24 hail reports and 4 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Marion County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Marion County. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with winds near 90 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.