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Greene County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Low overall risk
48th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$14Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Greene County, Tennessee has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 56% of US counties. It ranks 48th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $198 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (76 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.4 million on 37 claims here, including $1.1 million for floods in 2024.

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

Top risks in Greene County

$7.4 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.
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 300 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow63.5
$7M
EarthquakeLow84.2
$2M
TornadoLow61.8
$1M
Cold waveLow62.5
$1M
LightningHigh84.4
$664K
Strong windModerate63.4
$590K
HailLow56.2
$245K
DroughtLow59.8
$203K
Ice stormLow59.8
$98K
LandslideModerate92.7
$60K
HurricaneVery Low48.5
$46K
Winter weatherLow34.4
$27K
Heat waveVery Low15.0
$26K
WildfireVery Low45.0
$25K

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm5
Flood3
Winter Storm3
Tropical 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
Oct 2, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 27, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneEmergency
Mar 8, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2015Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
May 1, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 16
Aug 15, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Nov 12, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 21, 1973Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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 414 storm reports in Greene County since 1955, with 9 deaths and 113 injuries and about $40.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Flag Branch.

12tornadoes
73hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
274damaging thunderstorm winds
50floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 2011EF3Flag Branch33 / 6
Apr 27, 2011EF3Greystone70 / 1
Mar 12, 1967F2–5 / 1
Apr 27, 2011EF2Liberty Hill0 / 0
Apr 22, 1967F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 27, 2024FloodSt James$23M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoFlag Branch$8M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoGreystone$5M
Aug 12, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Feb 23, 2019FloodMohawk$550K
Apr 27, 2011TornadoLiberty Hill$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 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 1989, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Greene County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with top winds near 60 mph about 64 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
2020most recent: Zeta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 50 mph33 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 50 mph33 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 60 mph64 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 Greene County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (76 policies)
12.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.4 millionpaid on 37 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $1.1 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 Greene County

$207,500median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
47%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
22.8%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; 32,697 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
Washington CountyLow14
Hamblen CountyLow13
Hawkins CountyLow15
Cocke CountyLow22
Madison County, NCVery Low21
Unicoi CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Greene County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Greene County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Greene County, about $7.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Greene County had?

Greene County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Greene County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 48th 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 Greene County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Greene 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 Greene County had?

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Greene County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Flag Branch. The weather service has also logged 73 hail reports and 50 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Greene County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Greene County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), 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.