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Hardin County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Low overall risk
26th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$20Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Hardin County, Tennessee has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 71% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $732 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (23 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (152 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.9 million on 209 claims here, including $2.1 million for floods in 2019.

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

Top risks in Hardin County

$5 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.
$5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Earthquake

Moderate
$3.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 205 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow54.4
$5M
Cold waveHigh90.4
$5M
EarthquakeModerate90.3
$4M
TornadoModerate76.0
$2M
Strong windHigh94.3
$2M
LandslideHigh98.6
$685K
Heat waveLow71.2
$646K
LightningModerate58.0
$208K
HurricaneLow58.9
$124K
DroughtLow49.6
$95K
Ice stormLow37.4
$31K
HailVery Low7.6
$15K
Winter weatherVery Low22.7
$14K
WildfireVery Low28.9
$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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm16
Flood4
Tornado2
Winter Storm2
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
May 17, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoMajor disaster
Apr 7, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 6, 2019Severe Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2015Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 26
May 1, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 7, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1999Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 20, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 7, 1997Heavy Rains, Tornadoes, Flooding, Hail, High WindsMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 21, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 21, 1973Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

Tennessee also had 1 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 257 storm reports in Hardin County since 1954, with 4 deaths and 40 injuries and about $35.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on February 5, 2008 near Box Elder.

21tornadoes
82hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
118damaging thunderstorm winds
34floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 5, 2008EF4Box Elder5 / 3
Apr 19, 1970F4–0 / 0
Mar 31, 2023EF3Box Elder0 / 0
Mar 4, 1964F3–3 / 0
Feb 26, 1958F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 5, 2008TornadoBox Elder$18M
Mar 31, 2023TornadoBox Elder$4M
Oct 26, 2019Thunderstorm WindDamon$3M
Mar 4, 1964Tornado–$3M
May 2, 2010Flash FloodSwift$2M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoCounce$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 22, 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 Hardin County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 53 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph53 mi
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Oct 19, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph43 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph50 mi
Oct 19, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph43 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 Hardin County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (152 policies)
13%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.9 millionpaid on 209 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $2.1 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 Hardin County

$160,400median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
43%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.1%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; 15,161 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
Lauderdale County, ALModerate18
Alcorn County, MSLow16
Henderson CountyLow25
McNairy CountyLow19
Tishomingo County, MSVery Low17
Chester CountyLow14
Wayne CountyLow25
Decatur CountyVery Low26

Common questions about Hardin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hardin County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hardin County, about $5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $5 million.

How many federal disasters has Hardin County had?

Hardin County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 23 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Hardin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 26th 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 Hardin County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Hardin 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 Hardin County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Hardin County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on February 5, 2008 near Box Elder. The weather service has also logged 82 hail reports and 34 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Hardin County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Hardin 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.