Marion County, IA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Marion County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Marion County's highest-rated hazards are drought, landslide, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 41% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (10th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Marion County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1965, covering 6 disaster types including flood (9), severe storm (5), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm And Tornadoes |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2013 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2008 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1965.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 50.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 41.2 | 9 | 0 | $170K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 30.9 | 2 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 61.5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 67.7 | 18 | 0 | $120.3M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 8.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 53.5 | 64 | 0 | $95K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 47.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 30.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 42.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 25.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 34.3 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 88.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 73.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Marion County ranks in the 10th percentile (Very low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 10th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 2nd | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 28th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 11th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 44th | Low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 46th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 44th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 44.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 94 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 39 in 2016–20 vs 55 in 2021–25 (+41% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Marion County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Marion County, Iowa are drought, landslide, and tornado. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Marion County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Marion County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (9 declarations).
Has Marion County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Marion County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Marion County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Polk County, IA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Monroe County, IA has the lowest (Very Low). Marion County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Marion County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Marion County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Marion County's composite score of 34 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 34% of US counties.