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Marshall County, Kentucky

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

Relatively Low overall risk
32nd of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$22Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Marshall County, Kentucky has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $703 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (72 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.2 million on 68 claims here, including $596,000 for floods in 2011.

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

Top risks in Marshall County

Earthquake

Moderate
$7.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 110 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate92.6
$8M
Inland floodingLow47.3
$6M
TornadoLow60.8
$2M
Cold waveLow63.5
$2M
Strong windModerate79.9
$1M
Ice stormHigh92.5
$1M
Heat waveLow70.7
$932K
HailLow71.2
$582K
DroughtModerate65.9
$404K
LightningLow56.1
$287K
Winter weatherModerate75.0
$164K
HurricaneVery Low41.9
$35K
WildfireVery Low28.6
$13K
LandslideLow68.1
$5K

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 moderate and community resilience is relatively 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 Storm15
Flood3
Snowstorm3
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 23, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 3, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Feb 24, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 16, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesEmergency
Jul 23, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 10, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 11, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and TornadoesEmergency
Show all 27
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2016Severe Storm, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 12, 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2015Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 4, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 29, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 9, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Dec 1, 2005Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record SnowMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 29, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Kentucky also had 4 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 380 storm reports in Marshall County since 1951, with 9 deaths and 116 injuries and about $30.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 4, 1964.

25tornadoes
93hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
170damaging thunderstorm winds
68floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 4, 1964F4–16 / 3
Dec 10, 2021EF4Harvy54 / 2
Apr 4, 1968F4–5 / 1
Nov 15, 2005F3Brewers20 / 1
Nov 13, 1951F3–11 / 1

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 4, 2003HailCalvert City$10M
Nov 15, 2005TornadoBrewers$8M
Jul 7, 2016Flash FloodSharpe$2M
Feb 16, 2025FloodBenton$2M
Jul 10, 2002Thunderstorm WindGilbertsville$1M
Jun 23, 2019TornadoTatumsville$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 16, 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 1888, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Marshall County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 47 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1888most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph47 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph47 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 Marshall County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (72 policies)
16.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.2 millionpaid on 68 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $596,085 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

$173,800median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.2%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; 16,572 housing units.

Compare in Kentucky

All 120 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Jefferson CountyHighInland flooding
Fayette CountyModerateInland flooding
Kenton CountyLowInland flooding
Boone CountyLowInland flooding
Warren CountyModerateInland flooding
Hardin CountyLowInland flooding
Daviess CountyModerateInland flooding
Campbell CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
McCracken CountyModerate21
Calloway CountyLow18
Graves CountyModerate20
Trigg CountyLow24
Livingston CountyVery Low27
Lyon CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Marshall County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Marshall County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Marshall County, about $7.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $6 million.

How many federal disasters has Marshall County had?

Marshall County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Marshall County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 32nd highest of 120 in Kentucky. 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. About 1 in 167 homes in Marshall 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 Marshall County had?

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Marshall County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 4, 1964. The weather service has also logged 93 hail reports and 68 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Marshall County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Marshall County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 60 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.