On FEMA’s figures, Marshville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marshville gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #146 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). 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 Marshville 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
Earthquakes
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 Marshville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Marshville, and Marshville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #146 of 290 in North Carolina; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Marshville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical North Carolina town has lower expected damage than 51% of U.S. towns; within the state, Marshville has more expected damage per building than 50% of North Carolina towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Marshville: $942K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Marshville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Marshville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Marshville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Union County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Marshville
Disasters that paid out in Marshville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Marshville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene77 households applied for aid$119K aid approved
- 2018Hurricane Florence21 households applied for aid$746 aid approved
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$159K to the Town of Marshville for repairs
Union County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Marshville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Marshville archive →Get ready for what Marshville 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Marshville
Is Marshville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marshville has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #146 of 290 in North Carolina. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (9%). 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.
Is Marshville 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 Union County, 59% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Marshville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Marshville’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 Marshville?
By FEMA money that reached Marshville, Severe Winter Storm (2000): $159K to the Town of Marshville for repairs.
Is Marshville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Marshville’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Marshville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Marshville’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.