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Marshall County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Low overall risk
60th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$20Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Marshall County, Tennessee has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 55% of US counties. It ranks 60th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $575 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (102 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $527,000 on 50 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

$9.1 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.5 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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 floodingLow49.7
$9M
TornadoModerate76.2
$5M
Cold waveModerate68.8
$3M
EarthquakeLow75.8
$2M
Strong windModerate52.6
$821K
Heat waveVery Low32.8
$217K
LightningLow36.6
$195K
HailVery Low33.3
$187K
Ice stormLow48.1
$108K
Winter weatherLow40.0
$63K
HurricaneVery Low44.6
$60K
DroughtVery Low28.2
$26K
WildfireVery Low20.8
$11K
LandslideVery Low29.1
$393

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 low and community resilience is relatively 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
Flood2
Winter Storm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 2, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2015Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
May 1, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 13, 2002Severe Storms and TornadosMajor disaster
Show all 15
Apr 5, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1999Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 21, 1973Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

Tennessee also had 1 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 262 storm reports in Marshall County since 1952, with 5 deaths and 182 injuries and about $5.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 8, 2024 near Lunns Store.

20tornadoes
65hail reports, largest 4 inches
132damaging thunderstorm winds
38floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 8, 2024EF3Lunns Store0 / 0
Mar 30, 1960F2–1 / 0
Apr 20, 1996F2Waco0 / 0
Feb 29, 1952F1–166 / 3
Apr 1, 2023EF1Thick0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 1, 2023TornadoThick$1M
May 9, 2024Thunderstorm WindCochran$500K
May 8, 2024Flash FloodChapel Hill$500K
May 5, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$324K
May 2, 2009Flash FloodHardison Mill$300K
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$250K

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 1892, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Marshall County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with top winds near 50 mph about 56 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi
Sep 13, 1892UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph36 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph45 mi
Jun 18, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph45 mi
Jun 18, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Sep 13, 1892UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph36 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 ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (102 policies)
17.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$526,622paid on 50 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest year, with $224,669 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

$279,800median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
38%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.6%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; 14,749 housing units.

Compare in Tennessee

All 95 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Shelby CountyHighEarthquake
Davidson CountyHighInland flooding
Knox CountyModerateInland flooding
Hamilton CountyModerateInland flooding
Rutherford CountyModerateInland flooding
Williamson CountyModerateInland flooding
Montgomery CountyModerateInland flooding
Sumner CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Rutherford CountyModerate15
Williamson CountyModerate14
Maury CountyLow19
Bedford CountyLow16
Lincoln CountyLow15
Giles CountyLow22

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 $9.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Marshall County had?

Marshall County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, 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, 60th highest of 95 in Tennessee. 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 143 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 20 tornadoes in Marshall County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 8, 2024 near Lunns Store. The weather service has also logged 65 hail reports and 38 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Marshall County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Marshall County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with winds near 50 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.