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Marble Hill City HallPhoto: Skye Marthaler · CC BY-SA 3.0
DHazard risk
Natural hazards in Marble Hill · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Marble Hill than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marble Hill gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%), then earthquakes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 59 claims here since 1985.

River and rain flooding 64%Earthquakes 18%Tornadoes 9%

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

more than 91%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
D
in Missouri · higher than 91% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
64% of expected building damage
Flood claims
59
paid since 1985 · $1.6M
Flooded more than once
9
properties · 2 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
6
of 22 declared for Bollinger County

What stands out about Marble Hill’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Made safer with FEMA grants35 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared; 3 storm safe rooms built with FEMA grants.Remembers 200225 flood claims were paid for 2002 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Marble Hill 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

64%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

18%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts

Tornadoes

9%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 12 years in the area

Strong wind

6%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Ice storms top 4% Hail Winter storms top 1% Hurricanes Wildfire Landslides top 4% Cold waves Heat waves Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

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

What’s behind Marble Hill’s grade

River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Marble Hill, and Marble Hill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 9%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Marble Hill sits
Marble Hill
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of Marble Hill’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding64%Earthquakes18%Tornadoes9%Everything else10%

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Marble Hill: $946K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Marble Hill’s 1,388 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract, which it shares with Glen Allen town (57 residents). FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s, the same for all of them. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Marble Hill flood? Sometimes: 59 flood claims since 1985

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Marble Hill, from FEMA’s records: 80.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1985: 1 claim1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 1 claim1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 9 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 25 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 2 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 16 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 1 claim2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 1 claim2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 2 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199720022008
19852026
Biggest named events
  • The March storm16 claims · $548K
  • The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $10K
  • The Late spring severe storms1 claim · $7K
59
paid claims since 1985
$1.6M
paid to owners
9
homes flooded more than once
$28K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (2)Flooded 2+ times
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Marble Hill isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Bollinger County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
35flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
3storm safe rooms built
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Marble Hill

Disasters that paid out in Marble Hill itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Marble Hill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$19K to the City of Marble Hill for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding21 households applied for aid$63K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding9 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
  4. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding78 households applied for aid$129K aid approved$45K to the City of Marble Hill for repairs
  5. 2008Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$38K to the City of Marble Hill for repairs
  6. 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$28K to the City of Marble Hill for repairs25 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Marble HillBollinger County only

Bollinger County has had 22 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Were you here?

Old photos of Marble Hill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Marble Hill archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Marble Hill faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
High winds
  • Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
  • Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
  • Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Marble Hill

Is Marble Hill at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marble Hill has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and earthquakes (18%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Marble Hill flood?

Flood insurance has paid 59 claims in Marble Hill since 1985, $1.6M in all, or 80.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March storm (16).

Is Marble Hill 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 Bollinger County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.

How much is flood insurance in Marble Hill?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Marble Hill’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 Marble Hill?

By FEMA money that reached Marble Hill, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 78 households applied for aid, $129K approved, and $45K to the City of Marble Hill for repairs. By flood claims, March storm: 16 paid, $548K.

Is Marble Hill at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Marble Hill’s rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Marble Hill.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Marble Hill’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.