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Gibson County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
10th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$49Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Gibson County, Tennessee has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 86% of US counties. It ranks 10th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, tornadoes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $49 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $963 per resident. Since 1971 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (114 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.2 million on 224 claims here, including $1.9 million for floods in 2010.

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

Top risks in Gibson County

Earthquake

Moderate
$26.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 85 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$6.7 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.
$5.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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
EarthquakeModerate97.1
$27M
TornadoHigh91.7
$7M
Inland floodingLow52.9
$6M
Cold waveModerate85.4
$4M
Heat waveModerate82.6
$1M
LightningHigh91.3
$1M
Strong windModerate78.7
$1M
DroughtModerate73.3
$520K
Ice stormHigh84.7
$487K
Winter weatherModerate83.6
$207K
HurricaneVery Low54.3
$94K
HailVery Low12.2
$33K
WildfireVery Low18.5
$6K
LandslideVery Low61.0
$2K

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 Gibson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm15
Tornado4
Flood4
Winter Storm2
Hurricane1

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
Dec 13, 2023Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 17, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 13, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesEmergency
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 13, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 26
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 1, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2006Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 13, 2002Severe Storms and TornadosMajor disaster
Apr 20, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1998Severe Storms 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
Sep 22, 1982Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 7, 1979Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 18, 1971TornadoMajor 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 404 storm reports in Gibson County since 1952, with 14 deaths and 66 injuries and about $566 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 1, 1997 near Yorkville.

35tornadoes
133hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
171damaging thunderstorm winds
57floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 1, 1997F4Yorkville0 / 0
May 7, 1971F4–0 / 0
Apr 2, 2006F3Dyer42 / 6
Apr 2, 2006F3Rutherford6 / 2
Dec 10, 2021EF3Cool Spgs0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2010FloodNeboville$500M
Apr 2, 2006TornadoDyer$25M
Apr 2, 2006TornadoRutherford$15M
May 1, 2010Flash FloodHumboldt$9M
Dec 10, 2021TornadoCool Spgs$4M
Apr 19, 2011Thunderstorm WindFrog Jump$4M

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 Gibson County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 49 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1950most recent: Baker

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph49 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 35 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 35 mph55 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph49 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 Gibson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (114 policies)
13.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.2 millionpaid on 224 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $1.9 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 Gibson County

$156,900median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.6%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; 22,617 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
Madison CountyModerate22
Dyer CountyModerate22
Weakley CountyLow19
Obion CountyModerate20
Carroll CountyLow22
Crockett CountyLow17

Common questions about Gibson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Gibson County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Gibson County, about $26.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $6.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Gibson County had?

Gibson County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1971, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Gibson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 10th 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 Gibson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Gibson 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 Gibson County had?

NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Gibson County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 1, 1997 near Yorkville. The weather service has also logged 133 hail reports and 57 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Gibson County?

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