Home › Mississippi › Marshall County

Marshall County, Mississippi

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

Relatively Low overall risk
18th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$19Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Marshall County, Mississippi has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 71% of US counties. It ranks 18th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $579 per resident. Since 1971 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 22 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $227,000 on 13 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

$5.7 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$5.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 155 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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
Inland floodingLow59.3
$6M
EarthquakeModerate93.0
$6M
TornadoModerate89.0
$4M
Cold waveModerate71.0
$1M
Heat waveModerate81.9
$1M
LightningModerate67.0
$291K
Strong windLow39.0
$262K
WildfireLow79.2
$245K
HailLow39.5
$114K
DroughtLow47.9
$82K
HurricaneVery Low49.1
$44K
Ice stormLow44.4
$43K
LandslideLow82.1
$14K
Winter weatherVery Low15.0
$8K

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 Marshall County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Hurricane4
Winter Storm2
Tornado1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
Jan 4, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
May 14, 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Dec 7, 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Feb 18, 1994Severe Winter Storm, Freeezing Rain and SleetMajor disaster
May 17, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency
Mar 27, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 22, 1971Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster

Mississippi also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 268 storm reports in Marshall County since 1952, with 12 deaths and 63 injuries and about $11.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 21, 1952.

24tornadoes
73hail reports, largest 4 inches
142damaging thunderstorm winds
24floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 21, 1952F4–24 / 9
Dec 23, 2015EF4Chulahoma30 / 2
Feb 21, 1971F4–0 / 0
Apr 3, 2025EF3Taska0 / 0
Apr 17, 1982F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 23, 2015TornadoChulahoma$5M
Apr 3, 2025TornadoTaska$3M
Jul 16, 2019TornadoWarsaw$750K
Apr 27, 2011Flash FloodByhalia$500K
May 2, 2010Flash FloodBarton$500K
Mar 21, 1952Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 28, 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 1860, 0 hurricanes and 10 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Marshall County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 65 mph about 58 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
10tropical storms
2005most recent: Katrina

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Aug 29, 1881UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Sep 20, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph35 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 ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (22 policies)
5.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$226,736paid on 13 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $156,756 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

$167,900median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1992median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
30%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
23.8%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; 15,519 housing units.

Compare in Mississippi

All 82 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Hinds CountyModerateInland flooding
Harrison CountyHighHurricane
DeSoto CountyModerateEarthquake
Rankin CountyModerateInland flooding
Jackson CountyModerateHurricane
Madison CountyModerateInland flooding
Lee CountyModerateInland flooding
Forrest CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Shelby County, TNHigh26
DeSoto CountyModerate14
Lafayette CountyLow19
Fayette County, TNLow19
Tate CountyVery Low15
Union CountyLow17
Benton CountyVery Low15

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 $5.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $5.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Marshall County had?

Marshall County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1971, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Marshall County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 18th highest of 82 in Mississippi. 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 1000 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 24 tornadoes in Marshall County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 21, 1952. The weather service has also logged 73 hail reports and 24 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Marshall County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 10 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Marshall County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 65 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.