Marshall Michigan Historic Landmark District · Photo: rossograph · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Marshall’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marshall gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #391 of 701 in Michigan. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%), then tornadoes (16%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Marshall faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Strong wind
Hail
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 Marshall’s grade
River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Marshall, and Marshall’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 10%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #391 of 701 in Michigan; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Marshall’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Michigan town has lower expected damage than 77% of U.S. towns; within the state, Marshall has more expected damage per building than 56% of Michigan towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Marshall: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Marshall flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Marshall. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Marshall isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Calhoun County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Marshall
Disasters that paid out in Marshall itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Marshall), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2000Snow$7K to the City of Marshall for repairs
Calhoun County has had 5 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Marshall after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Marshall archive →Marshall and its neighbors
Marshall is 2nd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eckford Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Marshall | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Fredonia Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Marengo Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Marshall Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Marshall faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Marshall
Is Marshall at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marshall has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #391 of 701 in Michigan. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and tornadoes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Marshall 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 Calhoun County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Marshall?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Marshall’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 Marshall?
By FEMA money that reached Marshall, Snow (2000): $7K to the City of Marshall for repairs.
Is Marshall at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Marshall’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Marshall.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Marshall’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.