Marksville Prehistoric Indian Site · Photo: Herb Roe · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Marksville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marksville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #33 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (51%), then river and rain flooding (30%). Flood insurance has paid 49 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Marksville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Marksville faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Marksville’s grade
Hurricanes are 51% of the building damage FEMA expects in Marksville, and Marksville’s rate of hurricanes damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 30% (lower than 94% of U.S. census tracts).
B #33 of 162 in Louisiana; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Marksville’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Louisiana town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Marksville has less expected damage per building than 80% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Marksville: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Marksville flood? Sometimes: 49 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Marksville, from FEMA’s records: 21.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-summer severe storms7 claims · $267K
- Hurricane Gustav6 claims · $178K
- The 2026-06-Arthur-TS2 claims · $23K
Marksville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Avoyelles Parish.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Marksville
Disasters that paid out in Marksville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Marksville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Tropical Storm Arthur402 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Severe Winter Storms116 households applied for aid$72K aid approved
- 2020Hurricane Delta1 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2020Hurricane Laura7 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding181 households applied for aid$254K aid approved$38K to the City of Marksville for repairs
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding28 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
Show all 11
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$32K to the City of Marksville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Gustav1,332 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$299K to the City of Marksville for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $178K
- 2005Hurricane Rita1 households applied for aid$147K to the City of Marksville for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina$58K to the City of Marksville for repairs
- 2002Hurricane Lili$133K to the City of Marksville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Avoyelles Parish has had 32 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Marksville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Marksville archive →Marksville and its neighbors
Marksville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marksville | Bless damage than 57% | hurricanes | 49 |
| Mansura | B−less damage than 54% | hurricanes | 4 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Marksville faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Marksville
Is Marksville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marksville has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #33 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (51%) and river and rain flooding (30%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Marksville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 49 claims in Marksville since 1979, $891K in all, or 21.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-summer severe storms (7).
Is Marksville in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Avoyelles Parish, 4.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Marksville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Marksville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Marksville?
By FEMA money that reached Marksville, Tropical Storm Arthur (2026): 402 households applied for aid, $1.6M approved. By flood claims, Mid-summer severe storms: 7 paid, $267K.
Is Marksville at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (51%), and Marksville’s rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Marksville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Marksville’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.