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Marion County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
172nd of 254highest risk in Texas
$6Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 years.
  • 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.
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$836,179 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low26.0
$2M
Strong windHigh86.5
$1M
TornadoLow54.0
$836K
Ice stormHigh89.2
$498K
Heat waveLow62.2
$378K
DroughtModerate72.5
$356K
HailLow68.5
$308K
Cold waveLow28.9
$230K
EarthquakeVery Low32.2
$55K
LightningLow24.7
$52K
HurricaneVery Low51.7
$50K
WildfireVery Low51.1
$30K
Winter weatherLow24.8
$14K
LandslideVery Low28.8
$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

Fire6
Hurricane6
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm3
Severe Storm2

Most recent

Jul 9, 2024Hurricane BerylMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Mar 19, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 6, 2011Bear Creek FireFire management
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Show all 20
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 8, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 23, 1996Extreme Fire HazardEmergency
May 19, 1989Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1966Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

23tornadoes
101hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
157damaging thunderstorm winds
6floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 1, 1979F2–1 / 0
Jan 21, 2017EF2Smithland1 / 0
Mar 7, 2026EF2Berea2 / 0
Mar 21, 2022EF2Orrs1 / 0
Apr 27, 1961F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 1, 1979Tornado–$3M
Jan 21, 2017TornadoSmithland$800K
Mar 7, 2026TornadoBerea$500K
Mar 21, 2022TornadoOrrs$350K
Mar 10, 2018Thunderstorm WindOrrs$300K
Apr 27, 1961Tornado–$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
11tropical storms
2019most recent: Barry

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Jul 6, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Oct 13, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph56 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 14, 2019BarryTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph44 mi
Aug 9, 1940UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 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 ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (11 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$689,545paid on 46 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $225,959 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

$101,500median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
27.4%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; 5,623 housing units.

Compare in Texas

All 254 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Harris CountyVery HighInland flooding
Dallas CountyVery HighInland flooding
Tarrant CountyHighInland flooding
Bexar CountyHighInland flooding
Travis CountyHighInland flooding
Collin CountyHighTornado
Denton CountyHighTornado
Hidalgo CountyHighHurricane

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Caddo Parish, LAModerate32
Harrison CountyLow25
Upshur CountyLow21
Cass CountyLow26
Morris CountyVery Low16

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.