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Grundy County, Tennessee

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

Very Low overall risk
70th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$6Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Grundy County, Tennessee has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 70th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $6.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $471 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 13 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 Grundy County

$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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
$1.5 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 floodingVery Low29.4
$2M
TornadoModerate74.5
$2M
Cold waveModerate75.0
$2M
Strong windModerate56.5
$379K
EarthquakeLow64.2
$338K
DroughtLow52.1
$97K
LightningLow26.0
$54K
HailVery Low24.5
$52K
Winter weatherLow58.8
$50K
WildfireVery Low56.1
$39K
HurricaneVery Low45.3
$27K
Ice stormLow35.2
$24K
Heat waveVery Low5.7
$4K
LandslideLow63.3
$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 very high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood3
Fire2
Winter Storm2
Tornado1
Snowstorm1

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
May 17, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2015Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 7, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 3, 2001Tn - Chattanooga Fire Complex - 11/03/01Fire management
Show all 20
Apr 13, 1999Tn - Wildfires 4/13/99Fire management
Jan 15, 1999Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1997Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Jan 4, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 28, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 21, 1973Heavy Rains & 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 187 storm reports in Grundy County since 1952, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $4.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on February 13, 1952.

9tornadoes
48hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
107damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 13, 1952F3–2 / 0
Nov 6, 2018EF2Pelham0 / 0
Jun 26, 1994F2Altamont To6 / 0
Apr 5, 2025EF1Monteagle0 / 0
Nov 6, 2018EF1Counter Pen0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 6, 2018TornadoPelham$750K
Jun 26, 1994TornadoAltamont To$500K
May 8, 2024Flash FloodBarkertown$500K
Mar 15, 2025Thunderstorm WindPalmer$500K
Apr 5, 2025TornadoMonteagle$500K
Feb 13, 1952Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 7, 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 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Grundy County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with top winds near 45 mph about 50 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph50 mi
Sep 13, 1892UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph24 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph50 mi
Sep 13, 1892UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph24 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 Grundy County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (13 policies)
11.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$35,750paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $35,750 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 Grundy County

$154,000median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
24.2%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; 6,240 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
Coffee CountyLow19
Franklin CountyLow13
Warren CountyLow20
Marion CountyLow23
Sequatchie CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Grundy County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Grundy County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Grundy County, about $2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Grundy County had?

Grundy County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Grundy County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 70th 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 Grundy County?

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

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Grundy County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on February 13, 1952. The weather service has also logged 48 hail reports and 22 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Grundy County?

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