Marion County, IL
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Marion County has experienced 8 federally declared disasters since 1990, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Marion County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, strong wind, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 109% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Marion County has been designated in 8 declarations since 1990, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (3), biological (2), hurricane (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| 1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| 1990 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
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 | 15.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 68.1 | 10 | 0 | $100K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 95 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 83.3 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 70.5 | 7 | 0 | $2.0M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 40.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 58 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 92 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 70.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 39.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 74.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 49.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 64.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 67 | 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 60th percentile (Moderate) 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 | 60th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 57th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 72nd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 28th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 62nd | Moderate |
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 | 9th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 9th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 43.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 34 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 11 in 2016–20 vs 23 in 2021–25 (+109% — 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, Illinois are earthquake, strong wind, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Marion County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Marion County has received 8 federal disaster declarations since 1990, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (3 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, Jefferson County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Bond County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). Marion County is rated Relatively 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 77 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 77% of US counties.