Marion County, IN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Marion County has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1991, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Marion County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, heat wave, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 48% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (83rd percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Marion County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1991, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (9), flood (4), snowstorm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2026 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2007 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 total declarations since 1991.
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 | 22.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 98.3 | 33 | 1 | $702K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 96.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 98.7 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very High | 99 | 3 | 0 | $1.1M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 34.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 93.6 | 64 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very High | 98.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 93.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 85.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 98.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very High | 96.9 | 4 | 0 | $1.5M |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 37 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 65.9 | 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 83rd percentile (High) 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 | 83rd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 81st | High |
| Household characteristics | 78th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 86th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 63rd | 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 | 7th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 10.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 105 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 69 in 2016–20 vs 36 in 2021–25 (-48% — frequency decreasing).
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, Indiana are tornado, heat wave, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Has Marion County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Marion County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1991, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (9 declarations).
Has Marion County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Marion County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1991.
How does Marion County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Hamilton County, IN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Boone County, IN has the lowest (Relatively Low). Marion County is rated Relatively High 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 98 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 98% of US counties.