County Hazards

States › Tennessee

Tennessee

The recorded hazard history of every county in Tennessee: storm events since 1950, federal disaster declarations since 1953, and National Flood Insurance Program claims since 1978.

Tennessee has 46,283 weather events in the NCEI Storm Events record since 1950 across 95 counties, led by damaging wind: 112.2 per 100 square miles against 56.0 nationally.

NCEI attributes 804 deaths and 5,964 injuries to those events, with property damage estimated at $9.2B. By events per 100 square miles the leading counties are Moore, Davidson and Hamblen.

FEMA lists 97 disaster declarations touching the state since 1953, most recently Severe Winter Storm (6 Feb 2026). NFIP policyholders filed 17,706 flood claims since 1978, $481M paid; 18,014 residential policies are in force.

1,524events, last 12 monthsto 30 Jun 2026
46,283events since 1950112.2 per 100 sq mi (US 56.0)
97disaster declarations since 1953last 6 Feb 2026
17,706NFIP flood claims$481M paid

NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026; declarations refreshed 29 Sep 2026; claims as of 8 Sep 2026.

Compared with the United States

MeasureTennesseeUS
Recorded events since 195046,2831,977,440
Events per 100 square miles112.256.0
Events per 10,000 residents66.459.6
Deaths recorded by NCEI80426,435
Property damage (NCEI estimates)$9.2B$575B
NFIP claims per 1,000 residents2.58.1
Average paid NFIP claim$33K$43K
Residential flood policies in force18,0143,139,862

Hazard mix

Wind21,361
Hail7,175
Winter5,914
Flood4,414
Heat2,227
Drought1,967
Tornado1,704
Cold586
Lightning489
Other377
Tropical52
Fog12
Wildfire5
HazardEventsShare of USDeaths
■ Wind21,3613.0%57
■ Hail7,1751.7%—
■ Winter5,9142.1%60
■ Flood4,4142.4%121
■ Heat2,2273.9%82
■ Drought1,9672.3%—
■ Tornado1,7042.1%408
■ Cold5861.1%42
■ Lightning4892.7%24
■ Other3770.8%7
■ Tropical520.5%—
■ Fog120.1%3
■ Wildfire50.1%—

Events by decade

Hail: 31Tornado: 97Wind: 117
Hail: 110Tornado: 76Wind: 250
Hail: 134Tornado: 185Wind: 453
Hail: 242Tornado: 118Wind: 650
Hail: 1428Tornado: 223Flood: 610Wind: 3056Winter: 622Heat: 2Cold: 1Drought: 39Lightning: 68Other: 12
Hail: 2334Tornado: 305Flood: 1413Wind: 6305Winter: 1261Tropical: 52Heat: 34Cold: 63Drought: 630Lightning: 198Fog: 1Other: 60
Hail: 1806Tornado: 405Flood: 1274Wind: 6513Winter: 2696Heat: 646Cold: 134Drought: 486Wildfire: 3Lightning: 165Fog: 11Other: 249
Hail: 1090Tornado: 295Flood: 1117Wind: 4017Winter: 1335Heat: 1545Cold: 388Drought: 812Wildfire: 2Lightning: 58Other: 56
2451950s4361960s7721970s1,0101980s6,0611990s12,6562000s14,3882010s10,7152020s
Recorded events in Tennessee by decade and hazard group, including events recorded by forecast zone. HailTornadoFloodWindWinterTropicalHeatColdDroughtWildfireLightningFogOther NCEI recorded only tornadoes, hail and thunderstorm wind before 1996.

Counties by events per 100 square miles

CountyEventsLast 12 moPer 100 sq miPer 10k residentsDominantTornadoesHailDeclarationsNFIP claimsNRI risk
Moore County50720392.3763.1Wind1325180Very Low
Davidson County1,70931339.324.3Wind53275284,787Relatively High
Hamblen County3406210.952.7Wind2541526Relatively Low
Lake County32035193.0448.9Heat10282229Relatively Low
Shelby County1,46664192.815.9Wind56312281,019Relatively High
Wilson County1,02324179.267.3Wind4612917575Relatively Low
Knox County86741170.617.8Wind1516919598Relatively Moderate
Sumner County88420167.044.1Wind4516322706Relatively Moderate
Loudon County3745163.166.0Wind9652045Relatively Low
Hamilton County86820160.123.5Wind27168251,748Relatively Moderate
Putnam County6406159.678.8Wind201211935Relatively Low
Williamson County91514157.035.8Wind26197161,103Relatively Moderate
Trousdale County1783155.7147.9Wind14171326Very Low
Bradley County5014152.445.5Wind2711118203Relatively Low
Crockett County39339148.0281.1Heat12331910Relatively Low
Rutherford County90315145.825.6Wind4719417453Relatively Moderate
Lincoln County80037140.3225.8Wind45691749Relatively Low
Lawrence County84634137.1188.7Wind421462535Relatively Low
Jefferson County3768136.767.6Wind10512124Relatively Low
Franklin County73518132.6170.1Wind36861532Relatively Low
Robertson County62017130.283.7Wind301221471Relatively Low
Cheatham County3939129.994.6Wind135625513Relatively Low
Chester County37026129.5211.4Heat1376162Relatively Low
Tipton County58246127.795.4Wind289825145Relatively Moderate
Madison County70333126.271.2Wind3515624173Relatively Moderate
Sullivan County52014125.832.6Wind39312197Relatively Low
McMinn County5394125.399.7Wind22991640Relatively Low
Washington County40514124.030.2Wind95616152Relatively Low
Coffee County5295123.389.6Wind28872126Relatively Low
Dickson County60221122.9108.9Wind231072771Relatively Low
Anderson County4146122.853.4Wind4862255Relatively Low
Roane County4437122.882.0Wind6512440Relatively Low
Unicoi County2282122.5128.8Winter2201864Very Low
Houston County2459122.3294.6Wind7222864Very Low
Montgomery County65915122.228.9Wind368422313Relatively Moderate
Meigs County2372121.5181.6Wind543193Very Low
Pickett County1977120.9387.9Winter627212Very Low
Rhea County3741118.6112.9Wind4652182Relatively Low
Cannon County3094116.3212.3Wind11372248Very Low
Union County2602116.3129.7Wind2211610Very Low
Benton County45730115.9287.9Wind25602219Very Low
Smith County3605114.5178.5Wind154322283Very Low
Clay County2707114.1357.4Wind3342224Very Low
Decatur County37126111.1325.7Wind85628111Very Low
Sequatchie County2794104.9170.2Wind10432120Very Low
DeKalb County3183104.5155.3Wind15392017Very Low
Macon County3208104.2124.5Wind12422120Very Low
Maury County6399104.261.0Wind2211521200Relatively Low
Gibson County61937102.7122.5Wind3513228224Relatively Moderate
Bedford County4867102.695.1Wind20701830Relatively Low
White County3815101.1137.8Wind2047185Very Low
Grainger County2812100.1118.3Wind435203Very Low
Marshall County372899.1106.3Wind20651750Relatively Low
Overton County4261098.3186.5Wind14592111Very Low
Lauderdale County4634198.1184.4Wind274924323Relatively Low
Lewis County276797.8214.7Wind17492419Very Low
Henry County5454697.0169.0Wind16922140Relatively Moderate
Blount County535895.738.9Wind161081860Relatively Low
Dyer County4904095.6133.8Wind335524297Relatively Moderate
Henderson County4912894.4175.7Wind231062718Relatively Low
Fentress County465893.3246.7Wind2059240Very Low
Jackson County287892.9244.3Wind11393518Very Low
Obion County4984091.4163.5Wind255722191Relatively Moderate
Weakley County5284191.0159.8Wind29752117Relatively Low
Warren County391690.494.2Wind19532228Relatively Low
Carroll County5363689.7188.5Wind26932419Relatively Low
Stewart County4071688.5293.8Wind14532317Very Low
Hancock County190585.5279.9Wind3151916Very Low
Marion County422784.7146.1Wind217525117Relatively Low
Grundy County302383.8221.7Wind948223Very Low
Claiborne County358782.4110.9Wind11462130Relatively Low
Bledsoe County333481.9218.6Wind865250Very Low
Hickman County491980.2194.0Wind23762554Relatively Low
Hawkins County384878.867.0Wind3501716Relatively Low
Fayette County5532978.5129.1Wind231102126Relatively Low
Johnson County230677.1126.6Winter3232051Very Low
Hardin County4333075.0161.0Wind218228209Relatively Low
Campbell County356674.189.9Wind1452560Relatively Low
Perry County3061473.8361.2Wind123824112Very Low
Morgan County385873.7181.1Wind970218Very Low
Haywood County3923273.5221.5Heat15452189Relatively Low
Van Buren County200573.1316.3Wind2302014Very Low
McNairy County4103072.8158.5Wind21742117Relatively Low
Sevier County4201770.942.2Wind37623350Relatively Low
Hardeman County4702870.4184.9Wind2193183Relatively Low
Cumberland County4741069.675.9Wind2482264Relatively Low
Giles County422769.1138.2Wind20562430Relatively Low
Monroe County421066.290.2Wind20731817Relatively Low
Humphreys County350965.9182.2Wind254726235Relatively Low
Greene County405865.157.3Wind11731837Relatively Low
Polk County276663.5155.3Wind14462343Very Low
Scott County334662.7152.4Wind1150261Very Low
Cocke County2721062.474.7Wind6372485Relatively Low
Carter County184153.932.8Wind43218288Relatively Low
Wayne County357848.6217.6Wind19652771Relatively Low

Events are county-recorded plus zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county. NRI risk is FEMA's National Risk Index overall rating (December 2025).

Counties by flood claims per 100 policies in force

CountyClaims, last 10 yearsPolicies in forceClaims per 100 policiesClaims since 1978Paid
Decatur County9413967.6111$1.8M
Hardin County8915258.6209$3.9M
Cheatham County10325141.0513$26M
Tipton County5413639.7145$5.2M
Obion County5113039.2191$3.9M
Johnson County3710435.651$2.2M
Cocke County5517331.885$5.8M
Carter County11236131.0288$5.3M
Dyer County5017927.9297$7.3M
Davidson County9963,81826.14,787$186M
Montgomery County6625426.0313$11M
Wilson County14761124.1575$11M
Sumner County13059821.7706$14M
Williamson County2751,28421.41,103$31M
Unicoi County2913621.364$1.3M

Counties with at least 100 residential policies in force. Claims by year of loss in the ten years to 2026, divided by residential policies in force as of 3 Aug 2026; a rough ratio, since policies in force today differ from those in force when the losses occurred.

Federal disaster declarations by year

195319902026
Declarations touching Tennessee by year declared, 1953 to 2026; each disaster number counted once.
Incident typeDeclarations
Severe Storm45
Flood19
Fire11
Tornado8
Severe Ice Storm4
Winter Storm3
Tropical Storm2
Biological2
Other1
Hurricane1

Most recent declarations (each disaster number once, with the number of counties designated):

DeclaredNumberTypeIncidentTitleCounties
6 Feb 2026DR-4898Major disasterWinter StormSevere Winter Storm95
24 Jan 2026EM-3635EmergencyWinter StormSevere Winter Storm95
19 Jun 2025DR-4878Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding30
2 Apr 2025EM-3625EmergencySevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding95
2 Oct 2024DR-4832Major disasterTropical StormTropical Storm Helene14
27 Sep 2024EM-3620EmergencyTropical StormTropical Storm Helene8
17 Jun 2024DR-4792Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding12
13 Dec 2023DR-4751Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms And Tornadoes9
27 Sep 2023DR-4742Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado10
4 Sep 2023DR-4735Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms And Straight-Line Winds4
17 Aug 2023DR-4729Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms And Straight-Line Winds3
17 May 2023DR-4712Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado45
7 Apr 2023DR-4701Major disasterSevere StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes13
8 Mar 2023DR-4691Major disasterWinter StormSevere Winter Storm11
11 Mar 2022DR-4645Major disasterSevere StormSevere Winter Storm7

Flood insurance claims by year

197820022026
NFIP claims in Tennessee by year of loss, 1978 to 2026.

17,706 claims, 14,486 paid, $481M in total; 1,600 repetitive-loss and 221 severe repetitive-loss properties. ZIP codes in Tennessee with flood claims (302).

Year by year

Each year's events, declarations and claims: 2026 · 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012 · 2011 · 2010 · 2009 · 2008 · 2007 · 2006 · 2005 · 2004 · 2003 · 2002 · 2001 · 2000 · 1999 · 1998 · 1997 · and earlier years back to 1950

Questions and answers

Which Tennessee counties have the most recorded tornadoes?

Shelby (56), Davidson (53) and Rutherford (47), by NCEI count since 1950. Larger counties record more events; the state table also ranks by events per 100 square miles.

Which Tennessee counties have the most flood insurance claims?

Davidson (4,787), Hamilton (1,748) and Williamson (1,103) since 1978, in the OpenFEMA NFIP claims file.

How many federal disaster declarations has Tennessee had?

97 declarations since 1953 (major disaster, emergency and fire management assistance declarations combined), 2 of them in 2026 so far.

How does Tennessee compare with the national rate?

112.2 recorded events per 100 square miles against 56.0 nationally; 2.5 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents against 8.1.

Provenance

NOAA NCEI Storm Events through 30 Jun 2026; OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 refreshed 29 Sep 2026; OpenFEMA NfipClaims v3 as of 8 Sep 2026; NfipResidentialPenetrationRates v1 (3 Aug 2026); FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; US Census Bureau 2021 population and area. Built 30 Sep 2026. Methodology.