Enter any address in Marion County, Florida to see its FEMA flood zone
Localized flooding from heavy rainfall is a significant concern in Marion County, FL, as evidenced by 20 flood and 17 flash flood events recorded over the last 30 years. Slow-moving storms have historically caused these issues, such as the localized flooding rainfall experienced in July 2025 due to heavy, slow-moving storms, and in August 2025 when high moisture content and storm motion led to similar conditions. Tropical storms have also impacted the area, with Hurricane Helene in September 2024 bringing wind damage and contributing to the overall weather hazards.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data reveals that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $29,048 and an average water depth of 5.3 feet. While Zone X claims were also frequent, they showed a higher average water depth of 9.2 feet, though with a lower average payout. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in any zone with a history of significant water depth, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
17 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Marion County, Florida has recorded 46 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 17 flash floods and 20 river or area floods. The county has received 38 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1968–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Milton | Hurricane | Oct 5, 2024 |
| Hurricane Helene | Hurricane | Sep 23, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 23, 2024 |
| Hurricane Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Hurricane Idalia | Hurricane | Aug 27, 2023 |
| Tropical Storm Idalia | Tropical Storm | Aug 27, 2023 |
| Hurricane Nicole | Hurricane | Nov 7, 2022 |
| Tropical Storm Nicole | Tropical Storm | Nov 7, 2022 |
| Hurricane Ian | Hurricane | Sep 23, 2022 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jul 22, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 24, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 22, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 17, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 30, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 20, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jul 22, 2025
A trough extended across the local area, and an area of low pressure formed along the trough axis and retrograded into the Gulf of America during this period. Waves of heavy, slow moving storms produced localized flooding rainfall. A few stronger storms produced gusty wet downbursts.
Flash Flood — Aug 15, 2025
High moisture content and slow storm motion caused localized, flooding rainfall across Marion County where sea breeze storm mergers occurred in the evening.
Tropical Storm — Sep 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a category 4 with peak winds of near 140 mph in the Florida Big |Bend just east of the Aucilla River Entrance in Taylor County, late Thursday evening September 26, |2024. Helene's main impact to southeast Georgia and northeast Florida was wind damage as it |tracked quickly north-northeast. The very powerful hurricane and the forward motion produced a |wide swa...
Flood — Aug 24, 2024
A surface low meandered offshore of the NE FL coastal along a stalled front. Passing upper-level short wave trough energy, high moisture and slow storm motion produced locally heavy rainfall and pulse strong storms with wet downbursts in resultant storms. Storms impacted coastal areas in the morning, then with diurnal heating shift inland.
Flood — Aug 22, 2024
A weak front extended across NE FL from a broad surface low near the NE FL Atlantic coast. A moist and unstable airmass under cooler than normal 500 mb temperatures (-8 degC) triggered strong to pulse severe storms and localized flooding where sea breeze, outflows and boundaries merged near and south of the frontal zone under very weak steering flow.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Marion County, Florida:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Marion County, Florida that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.