Marion County, Ohio
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 64.9 | $10M | ||
| Cold wave | 85.3 | $5M | ||
| Tornado | 62.9 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 84.3 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 81.3 | $855K | ||
| Earthquake | 69.1 | $669K | ||
| Lightning | 57.4 | $272K | ||
| Ice storm | 75.0 | $259K | ||
| Heat wave | 40.2 | $208K | ||
| Winter weather | 76.4 | $158K | ||
| Hurricane | 44.8 | $40K | ||
| Wildfire | 3.7 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 31.2 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 1971 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Aug 8, 1979 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 23, 2000 | F2 | Martel | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 21, 1960 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 1973 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Meeker | $4M |
| Aug 9, 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Marion | $1M |
| Feb 28, 2011 | Flood | Meeker | $750K |
| Dec 22, 2013 | Flood | La Rue | $500K |
| Jun 12, 2013 | Hail | Marion | $350K |
| Aug 25, 1998 | Tornado | Marion | $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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | Inland flooding | |
| Cuyahoga County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| Summit County | Inland flooding | |
| Montgomery County | Inland flooding | |
| Lucas County | Inland flooding | |
| Butler County | Inland flooding | |
| Stark County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | 13 | |
| Union County | 11 | |
| Crawford County | 13 | |
| Morrow County | 14 | |
| Hardin County | 10 | |
| Wyandot County | 10 |
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.