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Marion County, Ohio

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

Relatively Low overall risk
40th of 88highest risk in Ohio
$20Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Marion County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 61% of US counties. It ranks 40th of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $301 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2012 (severe storms). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (183 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.2 million on 240 claims here, including $1.3 million 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 Marion County

$9.5 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$4.6 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.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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 floodingLow64.9
$10M
Cold waveModerate85.3
$5M
TornadoLow62.9
$2M
Strong windHigh84.3
$1M
HailModerate81.3
$855K
EarthquakeLow69.1
$669K
LightningModerate57.4
$272K
Ice stormModerate75.0
$259K
Heat waveLow40.2
$208K
Winter weatherModerate76.4
$158K
HurricaneVery Low44.8
$40K
WildfireVery Low3.7
$1K
LandslideVery Low31.2
$303

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 Marion County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm4
Severe Storm4
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Apr 24, 2008Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 25, 1995Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 17, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency

Ohio also had 3 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 355 storm reports in Marion County since 1957, with 1 death and 8 injuries and about $13 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 6, 1971.

17tornadoes
98hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
207damaging thunderstorm winds
32floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 6, 1971F2–3 / 0
Aug 8, 1979F2–0 / 0
May 23, 2000F2Martel0 / 0
Aug 21, 1960F2–0 / 0
May 10, 1973F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindMeeker$4M
Aug 9, 2007Thunderstorm WindMarion$1M
Feb 28, 2011FloodMeeker$750K
Dec 22, 2013FloodLa Rue$500K
Jun 12, 2013HailMarion$350K
Aug 25, 1998TornadoMarion$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (183 policies)
22.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.2 millionpaid on 240 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $1.3 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

$156,800median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1963median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.6%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; 27,358 housing units.

Compare in Ohio

All 88 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Franklin CountyHighInland flooding
Cuyahoga CountyHighInland flooding
Hamilton CountyHighInland flooding
Summit CountyModerateInland flooding
Montgomery CountyModerateInland flooding
Lucas CountyModerateInland flooding
Butler CountyModerateInland flooding
Stark CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Delaware CountyLow13
Union CountyVery Low11
Crawford CountyVery Low13
Morrow CountyVery Low14
Hardin CountyVery Low10
Wyandot CountyVery Low10

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 $9.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $4.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Marion County had?

Marion County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in June 2012.

Is Marion County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 40th highest of 88 in Ohio. 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 17 tornadoes in Marion County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 6, 1971. The weather service has also logged 98 hail reports and 32 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.