Hardeman County, Tennessee
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hardeman County, Tennessee has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 63% of US counties. It ranks 38th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, tornadoes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $628 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 4 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 Hardeman County
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 93.4 | $6M | ||
| Tornado | 83.7 | $3M | ||
| Inland flooding | 30.3 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 75.6 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 73.2 | $676K | ||
| Strong wind | 50.9 | $362K | ||
| Lightning | 55.2 | $180K | ||
| Hurricane | 58.7 | $117K | ||
| Drought | 51.4 | $101K | ||
| Hail | 25.1 | $60K | ||
| Ice storm | 34.1 | $25K | ||
| Wildfire | 34.9 | $12K | ||
| Winter weather | 20.1 | $11K | ||
| Landslide | 78.8 | $9K |
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 Hardeman County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
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 286 storm reports in Hardeman County since 1952, with 8 deaths and 26 injuries and about $8.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 21, 1952.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 21, 1952 | F4 | – | 14 / 4 |
| Dec 23, 2015 | EF4 | Poor | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 21, 1971 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 2010 | EF3 | Poor | 2 / 1 |
| Apr 3, 2025 | EF2 | Grand Jct | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 21, 1952 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 3, 2025 | Tornado | Grand Jct | $2M |
| Jan 17, 1999 | Tornado | Grand Jct | $400K |
| May 2, 2010 | Flash Flood | Whiteville | $400K |
| May 2, 2010 | Tornado | Poor | $250K |
| Apr 21, 1984 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 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 1860, 0 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Hardeman County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 42 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 42 mi |
| Sep 28, 1906 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Oct 3, 1860 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 30, 2005 | Katrina | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 54 mi |
| Jun 28, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 56 mi |
| Aug 31, 1950 | Baker | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 50 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2005 | Katrina | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 54 mi |
| Aug 19, 1969 | Camille | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 55 mi |
| Jun 28, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 56 mi |
| Aug 31, 1950 | Baker | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 50 mi |
| Jun 17, 1934 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 28, 1906 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 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 Hardeman County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Hardeman County
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; 10,750 housing units.
Compare in Tennessee
All 95 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | Earthquake | |
| Davidson County | Inland flooding | |
| Knox County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| Rutherford County | Inland flooding | |
| Williamson County | Inland flooding | |
| Montgomery County | Inland flooding | |
| Sumner County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Madison County | 22 | |
| Fayette County | 19 | |
| Alcorn County, MS | 16 | |
| McNairy County | 19 | |
| Tippah County, MS | 18 | |
| Haywood County | 19 | |
| Chester County | 14 | |
| Benton County, MS | 15 |
Common questions about Hardeman County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hardeman County?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Hardeman County, about $6.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Hardeman County had?
Hardeman County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.
Is Hardeman County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 38th 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 Hardeman County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Hardeman County had?
NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Hardeman County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 21, 1952. The weather service has also logged 93 hail reports and 25 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Hardeman County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Hardeman 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.