More hazard damage per building is expected in Marcellon than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from hail
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marcellon gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hail (53%), then river and rain flooding (41%). 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 Marcellon faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hail
River and rain 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 Marcellon’s grade
Hail is 53% of the building damage FEMA expects in Marcellon, and Marcellon’s rate of hail damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 41% (higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts).
D higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Marcellon’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $805K a year in losses across Marcellon: $603K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Marcellon flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Marcellon. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Marcellon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Columbia County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Marcellon
Disasters that paid out in Marcellon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Marcellon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$24K to the Town of Marcellon for repairs
- 2000Snow$1K to the Town of Marcellon for repairs
Columbia County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Marcellon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Marcellon archive →Marcellon and its neighbors
Marcellon is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Marcellon | Dmore damage than 86% | hail | 0 |
| Wyocena | Dmore damage than 86% | hail | 1 |
| Fort Winnebago | — | 798 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Scott | — | 906 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Marcellon faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Marcellon
Is Marcellon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marcellon has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hail (53%) and river and rain flooding (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Marcellon 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 Columbia County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Marcellon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Marcellon’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 Marcellon?
By FEMA money that reached Marcellon, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2008): $24K to the Town of Marcellon for repairs.
Is Marcellon at risk from hail?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (53%), and Marcellon’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Marcellon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Marcellon’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.