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Dyer County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
9th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$47Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Dyer County, Tennessee has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 87% of US counties. It ranks 9th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, tornadoes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $47 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,286 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (179 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.3 million on 297 claims here, including $2.8 million for floods in 2025.

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

Top risks in Dyer County

Earthquake

Moderate
$31.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 60 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$3.4 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate97.6
$31M
TornadoModerate88.4
$5M
Inland floodingLow37.8
$3M
Cold waveModerate82.1
$3M
Heat waveModerate83.8
$1M
DroughtModerate81.7
$786K
Strong windModerate71.5
$778K
Ice stormHigh87.8
$574K
LightningModerate79.9
$552K
Winter weatherModerate83.1
$186K
HailVery Low32.9
$103K
HurricaneVery Low51.6
$65K
WildfireVery Low24.6
$8K
LandslideLow71.2
$5K

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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood5
Tornado3
Winter Storm2
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 19, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 14, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 13, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesEmergency
Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2011FloodingEmergency
Show all 22
May 4, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2006Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 20, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 7, 1997Heavy Rains, Tornadoes, Flooding, Hail, High WindsMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 7, 1979Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 268 storm reports in Dyer County since 1952, with 36 deaths and 147 injuries and about $98.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 21, 1952.

33tornadoes
55hail reports, largest 2 inches
143damaging thunderstorm winds
31floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 21, 1952F4–5 / 4
Mar 21, 1952F4–10 / 2
Mar 1, 1997F4Chic15 / 1
Apr 2, 2006F3Newbern70 / 16
Mar 21, 1952F3–30 / 10

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 4, 2003TornadoDyersburg$50M
Apr 2, 2006TornadoNewbern$20M
May 2, 2010FloodDyersburg$10M
Apr 19, 2011Thunderstorm WindChic$5M
Apr 2, 1982Tornado–$3M
Mar 1, 1997TornadoChic$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 11, 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 1888, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Dyer County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 48 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1906most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph48 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph48 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 Dyer County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (179 policies)
18.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7.3 millionpaid on 297 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $2.8 million 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 Dyer County

$166,400median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.6%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; 16,311 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
Gibson CountyModerate26
Mississippi County, ARModerate19
Obion CountyModerate20
Lauderdale CountyLow22
Pemiscot County, MOLow24
Crockett CountyLow17
Lake CountyLow20

Common questions about Dyer County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Dyer County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Dyer County, about $31.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Dyer County had?

Dyer County has been included in 22 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 Dyer County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 9th 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 Dyer County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in Dyer 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 Dyer County had?

NOAA records list 33 tornadoes in Dyer County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 21, 1952. The weather service has also logged 55 hail reports and 31 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Dyer County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Dyer County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 60 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.