Home › Tennessee › Cumberland County

Cumberland County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Low overall risk
31st of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$19Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Cumberland County, Tennessee has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 67% of US counties. It ranks 31st of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $303 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 22 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 Cumberland County

$6 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
$3.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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
$3.9 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 floodingLow58.4
$6M
TornadoModerate86.1
$4M
Cold waveModerate86.7
$4M
EarthquakeLow85.4
$2M
Strong windModerate81.5
$970K
LightningHigh83.7
$614K
HailLow67.9
$356K
Winter weatherHigh85.6
$203K
DroughtLow59.2
$190K
WildfireLow72.6
$150K
Ice stormModerate64.1
$113K
HurricaneVery Low51.4
$58K
LandslideLow81.5
$13K

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 very high 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 Cumberland County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood4
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
Sep 27, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoMajor disaster
Jun 23, 2017Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2015Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 16, 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds AndMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2006Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 7, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 24
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 13, 2002Severe Storms and TornadosMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1999Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 14, 1995TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Jan 4, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 28, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 304 storm reports in Cumberland County since 1957, with 9 deaths and 96 injuries and about $17.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on November 10, 2002 near Crossville.

24tornadoes
82hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
139damaging thunderstorm winds
44floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 10, 2002F3Crossville18 / 4
Apr 15, 1965F3–0 / 1
May 18, 1995F3Newton To20 / 0
Feb 29, 2012EF2Plateau7 / 2
Apr 24, 1975F2–4 / 1

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 7, 2006TornadoCrossville$4M
Mar 29, 2020Thunderstorm WindBrowntown$3M
May 18, 1995TornadoNewton To$2M
Feb 29, 2012TornadoPlateau$1M
May 19, 2013Flash FloodDripping Spgs$1M
Mar 3, 2020TornadoRinnie$550K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 16, 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 1975, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Cumberland County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with top winds near 45 mph about 43 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph43 mi
Sep 24, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph43 mi
Sep 24, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 45 mph59 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 Cumberland County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (22 policies)
7.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7,780paid on 4 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $7,780 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 Cumberland County

$250,500median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1994median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
28%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13%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; 31,455 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
Putnam CountyLow17
Roane CountyLow22
Rhea CountyLow19
White CountyVery Low16
Morgan CountyVery Low19
Fentress CountyVery Low22
Bledsoe CountyVery Low23
Van Buren CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Cumberland County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cumberland County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cumberland County, about $6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Cumberland County had?

Cumberland County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Cumberland County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 31st 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 Cumberland County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County had?

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Cumberland County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on November 10, 2002 near Crossville. The weather service has also logged 82 hail reports and 44 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Cumberland County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Cumberland 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.