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Hardeman County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Low overall risk
38th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$15Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

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

Earthquake

Moderate
$6.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 140 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.1 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.
$2.3 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
EarthquakeModerate93.4
$6M
TornadoModerate83.7
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low30.3
$2M
Cold waveModerate75.6
$2M
Heat waveLow73.2
$676K
Strong windLow50.9
$362K
LightningLow55.2
$180K
HurricaneLow58.7
$117K
DroughtLow51.4
$101K
HailVery Low25.1
$60K
Ice stormLow34.1
$25K
WildfireVery Low34.9
$12K
Winter weatherVery Low20.1
$11K
LandslideLow78.8
$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

Severe Storm9
Tornado2
Winter Storm2
Flood1
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
Apr 7, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 8, 2021Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2015Severe Winter Storm 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
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 16
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1999Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 19, 1999Severe Storms, Tornadoes and High WindsMajor disaster
Mar 7, 1997Heavy Rains, Tornadoes, Flooding, Hail, High WindsMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1975Severe 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 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.

21tornadoes
93hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
146damaging thunderstorm winds
25floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 21, 1952F4–14 / 4
Dec 23, 2015EF4Poor0 / 0
Feb 21, 1971F4–0 / 0
May 2, 2010EF3Poor2 / 1
Apr 3, 2025EF2Grand Jct0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 21, 1952Tornado–$3M
Apr 3, 2025TornadoGrand Jct$2M
Jan 17, 1999TornadoGrand Jct$400K
May 2, 2010Flash FloodWhiteville$400K
May 2, 2010TornadoPoor$250K
Apr 21, 1984Tornado–$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
8tropical storms
2005most recent: Katrina

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph42 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph52 mi
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph56 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 40 mph50 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Aug 19, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 40 mph55 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph56 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 40 mph50 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 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 ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
5.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$12,313paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $10,818 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 Hardeman County

$121,700median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.5%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; 10,750 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
Fayette CountyLow19
Alcorn County, MSLow16
McNairy CountyLow19
Tippah County, MSLow18
Haywood CountyLow19
Chester CountyLow14
Benton County, MSVery Low15

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.