Natural hazards · Marion

Marion, NC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Marion comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 2004. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Marion?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Marion to be higher than in 16% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding51%Tornadoes14%Ice storms7%Earthquakes7%Cold waves6%Strong wind6%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Marion faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

51% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 22% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

14% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 63% of U.S. places

Ice storms

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 59% of U.S. places

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 42% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Strong wind

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Marion flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Marion, from FEMA’s records.

6paid claims since 2004

$781Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

20042026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Helene: 3 claims, $697K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Marion isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: McDowell County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

58flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

4homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Marion

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Marion itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Marion.

Brought FEMA money into MarionDeclared for McDowell County only

2024

Tropical Storm Helene

7,514 households applied for aid $16.8M aid approved $2.7M to the City of Marion for repairs

2018

Tropical Storm Michael

$38K to the City of Marion for repairs

2018

Hurricane Florence

$691K to the City of Marion for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

$14K to the City of Marion for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

84 households applied for aid $192K aid approved $11K to the City of Marion for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Frances

120 households applied for aid $349K aid approved $12K to the City of Marion for repairs

2002

Severe Ice Storm

$6K to the City of Marion for repairs

McDowell County has had 17 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and winter storms.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Marion covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Marion’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Marion. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Marion total about $498K a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.