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Marion County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
64th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$17Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Marion County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 52% of US counties. It ranks 64th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $591 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 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 (50 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $11 million on 535 claims here, including $6.3 million for floods in 1993.

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

Top risks in Marion County

$9.8 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow59.3
$10M
Heat waveModerate79.7
$2M
Cold waveLow59.1
$2M
TornadoLow45.8
$1M
Strong windModerate70.5
$1M
HailLow67.1
$548K
DroughtLow61.6
$345K
EarthquakeVery Low50.9
$321K
LightningLow55.6
$315K
Ice stormLow38.0
$53K
Winter weatherLow28.0
$30K
WildfireVery Low30.8
$16K
LandslideLow78.0
$14K
HurricaneVery Low15.9
$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 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 Marion County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm15
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
Aug 7, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 17, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 19, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 23
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Dec 29, 2006Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 14, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 299 storm reports in Marion County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $22.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 10, 2003 near Ely.

12tornadoes
111hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
142damaging thunderstorm winds
30floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 10, 2003F3Ely0 / 0
Sep 23, 1977F2–0 / 0
Oct 2, 2007EF1Woodland1 / 0
May 20, 2013EF1White Bear0 / 0
Oct 2, 2007EF0Palmyra0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 3, 2008FloodMark$20M
May 13, 2008HailHannibal$1M
Sep 23, 1977Tornado–$250K
Jul 20, 2010Flash FloodHannibal$200K
Oct 2, 2007TornadoWoodland$100K
Feb 27, 2011Thunderstorm WindHannibal Muni Arpt$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (50 policies)
7.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$11.2 millionpaid on 535 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $6.3 million 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 Marion County

$162,000median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
63%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.8%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; 12,917 housing units.

Compare in Missouri

All 115 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
St. Louis CountyHighHeat wave
Jackson CountyHighInland flooding
St. Charles CountyModerateInland flooding
St. Louis CityHighHeat wave
Greene CountyModerateInland flooding
Clay CountyModerateInland flooding
Jefferson CountyModerateInland flooding
Boone CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Adams County, ILLow19
Pike County, ILVery Low23
Ralls CountyVery Low24
Lewis CountyVery Low25
Monroe CountyVery Low17
Shelby CountyVery Low25

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 $9.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Marion County had?

Marion County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 17 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 Low, 64th highest of 115 in Missouri. 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 250 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 12 tornadoes in Marion County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 10, 2003 near Ely. The weather service has also logged 111 hail reports and 30 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.