Marion County, Indiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Marion County, Indiana has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 98% of US counties. It ranks 1st of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $285 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $291 per resident. Since 1991 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (2,066 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $19 million on 2,309 claims here.
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.
- 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.
- 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 | 98.3 | $163M | ||
| Tornado | 99.0 | $39M | ||
| Cold wave | 98.7 | $27M | ||
| Earthquake | 96.4 | $22M | ||
| Heat wave | 98.7 | $20M | ||
| Strong wind | 98.7 | $7M | ||
| Lightning | 96.9 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 93.6 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 85.3 | $610K | ||
| Winter weather | 93.7 | $570K | ||
| Drought | 37.0 | $50K | ||
| Hurricane | 34.1 | $19K | ||
| Wildfire | 22.3 | $9K | ||
| Landslide | 65.9 | $4K |
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 relatively low and community resilience is relatively moderate 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 18
Indiana also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1952
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 1,074 storm reports in Marion County since 1952, with 11 deaths and 276 injuries and about $122 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 14, 1972.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 1972 | F4 | – | 17 / 0 |
| Apr 22, 1963 | F3 | – | 20 / 0 |
| Mar 10, 1986 | F3 | – | 10 / 0 |
| Nov 22, 1992 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 11, 1998 | F3 | Cumberland | 3 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 2002 | Tornado | Southport | $40M |
| May 30, 2008 | Tornado | Lawrence | $29M |
| May 30, 2004 | Tornado | Sunshine Gardens | $19M |
| Sep 1, 2003 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $5M |
| Apr 22, 1963 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jul 4, 1973 | Tornado | – | $3M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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.
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; 441,040 housing units.
Compare in Indiana
All 92 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Marion County | Inland flooding | |
| Lake County | Inland flooding | |
| Allen County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Joseph County | Inland flooding | |
| Elkhart County | Inland flooding | |
| Tippecanoe County | Inland flooding | |
| Vanderburgh County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County | 19 | |
| Hendricks County | 12 | |
| Johnson County | 14 | |
| Hancock County | 17 | |
| Morgan County | 18 | |
| Boone County | 16 | |
| Shelby County | 13 |
Cities in Marion County
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 $163 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $39.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Marion County had?
Marion County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1991, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.
Is Marion County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively High, 1st highest of 92 in Indiana. 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 143 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 47 tornadoes in Marion County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 14, 1972. The weather service has also logged 375 hail reports and 104 floods here.
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.