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Cannon County, Tennessee

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

Very Low overall risk
79th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$7Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Cannon County, Tennessee has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 77% of US counties. It ranks 79th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $7.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $493 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 45 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.4 million on 48 claims here, including $695,000 for floods in 2020.

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

Top risks in Cannon County

$4.3 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.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.
$403,992 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow39.5
$4M
TornadoLow57.6
$1M
Strong windLow43.1
$404K
Cold waveLow28.4
$343K
EarthquakeVery Low53.1
$289K
DroughtLow50.1
$132K
LightningLow31.6
$104K
Heat waveVery Low20.5
$58K
Winter weatherLow44.4
$48K
Ice stormVery Low25.4
$22K
HailVery Low6.8
$18K
HurricaneVery Low27.2
$10K
WildfireVery Low4.2
$1K
LandslideVery Low44.5
$823

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood2
Tornado2
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 2, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jun 17, 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 7, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 8, 2021Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
May 4, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2006Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 20
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1999Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Mar 22, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 21, 1973Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1974

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 207 storm reports in Cannon County since 1974, with 5 deaths and 13 injuries and about $6.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1974.

11tornadoes
37hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
122damaging thunderstorm winds
35floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F3–3 / 1
May 31, 2001F2Auburntown2 / 1
Apr 1, 2023EF2Readyville2 / 0
Jan 24, 1997F2Pleasant Ridge2 / 0
Apr 28, 2002F2Bradyville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 1, 2023TornadoReadyville$3M
Apr 7, 2006Thunderstorm WindCountywide$1M
May 5, 2003TornadoWoodbury$500K
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$250K
Jul 21, 1996Flash FloodAuburntown$200K
Aug 7, 2023Thunderstorm WindBradyville$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 18, 2025. 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 Cannon County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with top winds near 45 mph about 36 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph36 mi
Sep 13, 1892UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph28 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph36 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Sep 13, 1892UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph28 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 Cannon County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (45 policies)
12.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.4 millionpaid on 48 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $694,956 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 Cannon County

$252,000median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
39%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.3%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; 6,453 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
Rutherford CountyModerate15
Wilson CountyLow15
Coffee CountyLow19
Warren CountyLow20
DeKalb CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Cannon County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cannon County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cannon County, about $4.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Cannon County had?

Cannon County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Cannon County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 79th 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 Cannon County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Cannon 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 Cannon County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Cannon County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 37 hail reports and 35 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Cannon County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Cannon County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), 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.