Photo: SounderBruce · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Marysville than in 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marysville gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #145 of 285 in Washington. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (54%), then river and rain flooding (41%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1980.
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 Marysville faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
Coastal flooding
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 Marysville’s grade
Earthquakes are 54% of the building damage FEMA expects in Marysville, and Marysville’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 5%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #145 of 285 in Washington; higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Marysville’s residents live in 18 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Washington town has higher expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Marysville has more expected damage per building than 51% of Washington towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $29.6M a year in losses across Marysville: $20.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Marysville flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Marysville, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Marysville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Snohomish County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Marysville
Disasters that paid out in Marysville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Marysville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides39 households applied for aid$94K aid approved$15K to the City of Marysville for repairs
- 2022Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$111K to the City of Marysville for repairs
- 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$37K to the City of Marysville for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, Tornado$468K to the City of Marysville for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$93K to the City of Marysville for repairs
- 2015Severe Windstorm$55K to the City of Marysville for repairs
Show all 11
- 2014Flooding and Mudslides6 households applied for aid$8K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$42K to the City of Marysville for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow$38K to the City of Marysville for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$547 aid approved
Snohomish County has had 31 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Snohomish County, 2022–2022.
Old photos of Marysville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Marysville archive →Marysville and its neighbors
Marysville is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Cassidy | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lake Goodwin | C+more damage than 56% | earthquakes | — |
| Sisco Heights | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Arlington | Cmore damage than 75% | earthquakes | 7 |
| Marysville | C−more damage than 76% | earthquakes | 8 |
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 Marysville faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Marysville
Is Marysville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marysville has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #145 of 285 in Washington. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (54%) and river and rain flooding (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Marysville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Marysville since 1980, $79K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Marysville 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 Snohomish County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Marysville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Marysville’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 Marysville?
By FEMA money that reached Marysville, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, Tornado (2018): $468K to the City of Marysville for repairs.
Is Marysville at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (54%), and Marysville’s rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Marysville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Marysville’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.