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Anderson County, Tennessee

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
22nd of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$29Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Anderson County, Tennessee has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 73% of US counties. It ranks 22nd of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $29 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $383 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (98 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $262,000 on 55 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Anderson County

$16.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate77.7
$16M
TornadoModerate80.0
$4M
Cold waveModerate80.3
$3M
EarthquakeLow87.8
$3M
Strong windModerate73.6
$991K
LightningModerate78.1
$613K
HailLow63.3
$391K
Ice stormModerate67.9
$182K
Winter weatherModerate76.0
$160K
Heat waveVery Low33.3
$149K
LandslideModerate92.2
$71K
HurricaneVery Low48.6
$59K
WildfireVery Low54.3
$56K
DroughtVery Low23.6
$9K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Anderson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood4
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1
Fire1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 2, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2015Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 13, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, AndMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 20
Nov 13, 2002Severe Storms and TornadosMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 2, 2000Tn - Knoxville Fire Complex - 11/02/00Fire management
Jun 12, 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1999Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Apr 20, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Jan 4, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 21, 1973Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

Tennessee also had 1 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 370 storm reports in Anderson County since 1953, with 1 death and 10 injuries and about $3.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on November 10, 2002 near Lake City.

4tornadoes
87hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
243damaging thunderstorm winds
36floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 10, 2002F2Lake City0 / 0
May 2, 1953F2–0 / 0
Jun 24, 2011EF1Oak Ridge0 / 0
Apr 4, 1974F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 23, 2019FloodNorris$600K
May 18, 1995HailClinton$500K
Jul 3, 2026Thunderstorm WindOak Ridge$400K
Nov 10, 2002TornadoLake City$213K
Jul 5, 2009Thunderstorm WindSouth Clinton$100K
Jul 3, 2026Thunderstorm WindHanna$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1975, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Anderson County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Eloise (1975), with top winds near 45 mph about 57 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 24, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Sep 24, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Anderson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (98 policies)
15.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$262,029paid on 55 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year, with $128,183 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Anderson County

$239,400median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.2%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 35,880 housing units.

Compare in Tennessee

All 95 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Shelby CountyHighEarthquake
Davidson CountyHighInland flooding
Knox CountyModerateInland flooding
Hamilton CountyModerateInland flooding
Rutherford CountyModerateInland flooding
Williamson CountyModerateInland flooding
Montgomery CountyModerateInland flooding
Sumner CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Knox CountyModerate17
Roane CountyLow22
Campbell CountyLow23
Scott CountyVery Low24
Morgan CountyVery Low19
Union CountyVery Low14

Cities in Anderson County

Common questions about Anderson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Anderson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Anderson County, about $16.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Anderson County had?

Anderson County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Anderson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 22nd highest of 95 in Tennessee. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Anderson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Anderson County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Anderson County had?

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Anderson County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on November 10, 2002 near Lake City. The weather service has also logged 87 hail reports and 36 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Anderson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Anderson County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Eloise (1975), with winds near 45 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.