Marion County, KY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Marion County has experienced 23 federally declared disasters since 1970, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Marion County's highest-rated hazards are hail, strong wind, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 30% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (79th 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 23 declarations since 1970, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (10), severe ice storm (3), snowstorm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2022 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2021 | Flood | Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 total declarations since 1970.
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 | 11.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 39.7 | 18 | 1 | $60K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 60.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 27.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 61.9 | 6 | 0 | $185K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 37 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 65 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 64.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 56.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 57 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 46.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 42.6 | 1 | 0 | $250K |
| Drought | Very Low | 29.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 35.4 | 1 | 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 79th 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 | 79th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 69th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 88th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 37th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 80th | High |
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 | 21st | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 19th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 83.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 34 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 20 in 2016–20 vs 14 in 2021–25 (-30% — 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, Kentucky are hail, strong wind, 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 23 federal disaster declarations since 1970, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 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, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (2025), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1970.
How does Marion County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Nelson County, KY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Larue County, KY 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 30 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 30% of US counties.