Marion County, Texas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Marion County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 71% of US counties. It ranks 172nd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $576 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (Hurricane Beryl). Only 11 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $690,000 on 46 claims here.
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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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 | 26.0 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 86.5 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 54.0 | $836K | ||
| Ice storm | 89.2 | $498K | ||
| Heat wave | 62.2 | $378K | ||
| Drought | 72.5 | $356K | ||
| Hail | 68.5 | $308K | ||
| Cold wave | 28.9 | $230K | ||
| Earthquake | 32.2 | $55K | ||
| Lightning | 24.7 | $52K | ||
| Hurricane | 51.7 | $50K | ||
| Wildfire | 51.1 | $30K | ||
| Winter weather | 24.8 | $14K | ||
| Landslide | 28.8 | $167 |
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 relatively low 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
Show all 20
Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1961
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 287 storm reports in Marion County since 1961, with 1 death and 12 injuries and about $5.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 1, 1979.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 1979 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jan 21, 2017 | EF2 | Smithland | 1 / 0 |
| Mar 7, 2026 | EF2 | Berea | 2 / 0 |
| Mar 21, 2022 | EF2 | Orrs | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 1961 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 1979 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jan 21, 2017 | Tornado | Smithland | $800K |
| Mar 7, 2026 | Tornado | Berea | $500K |
| Mar 21, 2022 | Tornado | Orrs | $350K |
| Mar 10, 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Orrs | $300K |
| Apr 27, 1961 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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 1865, 0 hurricanes and 11 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Marion County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, with top winds near 60 mph about 59 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23, 1879 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 59 mi |
| Jul 6, 1891 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 62 mi |
| Oct 13, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 7, 1918 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 56 mi |
| Sep 13, 2008 | Ike | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 14, 1865 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 64 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 2019 | Barry | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 13, 2008 | Ike | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 24, 2005 | Rita | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 20, 1947 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 24, 1941 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 44 mi |
| Aug 9, 1940 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 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 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; 5,623 housing units.
Compare in Texas
All 254 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County | Inland flooding | |
| Dallas County | Inland flooding | |
| Tarrant County | Inland flooding | |
| Bexar County | Inland flooding | |
| Travis County | Inland flooding | |
| Collin County | Tornado | |
| Denton County | Tornado | |
| Hidalgo County | Hurricane |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Caddo Parish, LA | 32 | |
| Harrison County | 25 | |
| Upshur County | 21 | |
| Cass County | 26 | |
| Morris County | 16 |
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 $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1 million.
How many federal disasters has Marion County had?
Marion County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.
Is Marion County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 172nd highest of 254 in Texas. 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 333 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 23 tornadoes in Marion County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 1, 1979. The weather service has also logged 101 hail reports and 6 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Marion County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 11 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Marion County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, with winds near 60 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.