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Henderson County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Low overall risk
37th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$19Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Henderson 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 37th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $700 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 14 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $551,000 on 18 claims here.

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

Top risks in Henderson County

Earthquake

Moderate
$6.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 160 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.8 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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
EarthquakeModerate92.6
$7M
Cold waveModerate83.5
$4M
TornadoModerate80.0
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low32.8
$3M
Strong windModerate78.8
$1M
Heat waveLow69.9
$766K
LightningModerate59.7
$279K
HurricaneVery Low53.1
$85K
DroughtLow40.5
$58K
Ice stormLow38.6
$41K
Winter weatherVery Low21.6
$16K
HailVery Low6.7
$16K
LandslideLow79.2
$12K
WildfireVery Low19.4
$6K

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm16
Tornado4
Winter Storm3
Flood1
Hurricane1

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
Mar 8, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 8, 2021Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 6, 2019Severe Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Show all 25
Jul 20, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, AndMajor disaster
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 13, 2002Severe Storms and TornadosMajor 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
May 7, 1979Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor 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 312 storm reports in Henderson County since 1952, with 15 deaths and 143 injuries and about $31.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 22, 1952.

23tornadoes
107hail reports, largest 2 inches
147damaging thunderstorm winds
29floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 22, 1952F4–43 / 11
Apr 3, 1956F4–60 / 3
May 4, 2003F4Luray20 / 0
May 4, 2003F3Luray0 / 0
Dec 11, 2021EF2Sand Ridge1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 4, 2003TornadoLuray$10M
May 1, 2010Flash FloodLuray$5M
Dec 11, 2021TornadoSand Ridge$4M
Jan 17, 1999Thunderstorm WindBlue Goose$3M
Mar 22, 1952Tornado–$3M
Apr 3, 1956Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 1888, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Henderson County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 57 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1957most recent: Audrey

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph46 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph46 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph57 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 Henderson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (14 policies)
9.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$550,815paid on 18 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $239,009 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 Henderson County

$164,800median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
22.9%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; 12,963 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
Carroll CountyLow22
Hardin CountyLow26
Chester CountyLow14
Decatur CountyVery Low26

Common questions about Henderson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Henderson County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Henderson County, about $6.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $3.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Henderson County had?

Henderson County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Henderson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 37th 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 Henderson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Henderson 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 Henderson County had?

NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Henderson County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 22, 1952. The weather service has also logged 107 hail reports and 29 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Henderson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Henderson 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.