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Marshall County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
52nd of 105highest risk in Kansas
$8Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Marshall County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 79% of US counties. It ranks 52nd of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $7.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $783 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). No homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $102,000 on 27 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Marshall County

$3.5 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.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$932,433 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low29.2
$4M
TornadoLow56.0
$2M
Strong windModerate67.5
$932K
WildfireLow81.2
$477K
HailLow63.4
$440K
Heat waveLow48.4
$359K
Ice stormModerate71.1
$242K
Winter weatherModerate64.7
$110K
LightningVery Low22.2
$79K
DroughtLow39.5
$65K
Cold waveVery Low5.9
$30K
EarthquakeVery Low19.7
$29K
LandslideVery Low49.7
$1K

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Marshall County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm14
Flood2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2022Severe Storms and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor disaster
May 28, 2019Tornadoes and FloodingEmergency
Oct 19, 2018Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 10, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 9, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Dec 23, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 17
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
May 6, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1973Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 649 storm reports in Marshall County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $27.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on September 25, 1973.

42tornadoes
328hail reports, largest 5 inches
237damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 25, 1973F3–0 / 0
May 2, 1959F2–0 / 0
Apr 28, 1963F2–0 / 0
Apr 28, 1963F2–0 / 0
May 29, 1959F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 25, 1973Tornado–$25M
Jun 27, 1998TornadoHome$810K
Apr 17, 1976Tornado–$250K
Mar 18, 1979Tornado–$250K
Jun 11, 1997Thunderstorm WindLillis$200K
Jun 11, 1997HailLillis$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 30, 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 Marshall County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$101,685paid on 27 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $65,549 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 Marshall County

$127,700median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1959median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.3%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; 4,751 housing units.

Compare in Kansas

All 105 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Johnson CountyHighInland flooding
Sedgwick CountyHighInland flooding
Shawnee CountyModerateInland flooding
Wyandotte CountyModerateInland flooding
Douglas CountyLowInland flooding
Leavenworth CountyLowInland flooding
Riley CountyLowInland flooding
Butler CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Riley CountyLow16
Pottawatomie CountyVery Low18
Gage County, NEVery Low22
Nemaha CountyVery Low15
Washington CountyVery Low19
Pawnee County, NEVery Low18

Common questions about Marshall County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Marshall County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Marshall County, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Marshall County had?

Marshall County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Marshall County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 52nd highest of 105 in Kansas. 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 Marshall 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 Marshall County had?

NOAA records list 42 tornadoes in Marshall County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on September 25, 1973. The weather service has also logged 328 hail reports and 39 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.