Bledsoe County, Tennessee
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Bledsoe County, Tennessee has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 76% of US counties. It ranks 78th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $403 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Bledsoe County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 27.9 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 67.4 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 55.0 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 46.3 | $360K | ||
| Earthquake | 60.2 | $335K | ||
| Drought | 54.7 | $148K | ||
| Lightning | 40.1 | $117K | ||
| Hail | 20.5 | $53K | ||
| Wildfire | 57.0 | $51K | ||
| Winter weather | 38.5 | $31K | ||
| Heat wave | 16.2 | $31K | ||
| Hurricane | 35.3 | $16K | ||
| Ice storm | 21.8 | $14K | ||
| Landslide | 74.8 | $7K |
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 high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Bledsoe County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 23
Tennessee also had 1 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 287 storm reports in Bledsoe County since 1955, with 4 deaths and 10 injuries and about $21.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Hendon.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF4 | Hendon | 10 / 4 |
| Apr 24, 1955 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 4, 1983 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 10, 2002 | F1 | Pikeville | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF1 | Pailo | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 2011 | Tornado | Hendon | $15M |
| May 5, 2003 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $4M |
| Feb 23, 2019 | Flash Flood | Pikeville | $850K |
| Apr 24, 1955 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 4, 1983 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Nov 10, 2002 | Tornado | Pikeville | $100K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 1892, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Bledsoe County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Eloise (1975), with top winds near 45 mph about 53 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 1975 | Eloise | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 53 mi |
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 mi |
| Sep 13, 1892 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 54 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 mi |
| Sep 23, 1975 | Eloise | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 53 mi |
| Sep 13, 1892 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 54 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 Bledsoe County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Bledsoe County
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; 5,912 housing units.
Compare in Tennessee
All 95 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | Earthquake | |
| Davidson County | Inland flooding | |
| Knox County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| Rutherford County | Inland flooding | |
| Williamson County | Inland flooding | |
| Montgomery County | Inland flooding | |
| Sumner County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County | 23 | |
| Cumberland County | 24 | |
| Rhea County | 19 | |
| Sequatchie County | 19 | |
| Van Buren County | 18 |
Common questions about Bledsoe County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Bledsoe County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Bledsoe County, about $2.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Bledsoe County had?
Bledsoe County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.
Is Bledsoe County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 78th 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 Bledsoe County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Bledsoe County had?
NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Bledsoe County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Hendon. The weather service has also logged 65 hail reports and 43 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Bledsoe County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Bledsoe 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.