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Henry County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
12th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$38Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Henry County, Tennessee has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 85% of US counties. It ranks 12th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $38 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,194 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (97 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $319,000 on 40 claims here.

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

Top risks in Henry County

$19.1 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
$9.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 125 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.5 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh98.6
$19M
EarthquakeModerate94.9
$10M
TornadoModerate83.9
$3M
Inland floodingLow38.8
$3M
Heat waveLow74.5
$796K
Strong windModerate71.6
$720K
LightningModerate77.0
$453K
Ice stormHigh83.1
$370K
DroughtModerate65.7
$287K
Winter weatherModerate79.2
$141K
HailVery Low19.5
$49K
HurricaneVery Low48.9
$47K
LandslideLow78.2
$9K
WildfireVery Low23.5
$7K

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 Henry County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm12
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
Sep 4, 2023Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
May 17, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 13, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
May 1, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor 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 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 342 storm reports in Henry County since 1957, with 3 deaths and 77 injuries and about $25.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on November 26, 2001 near Paris.

16tornadoes
92hail reports, largest 2 inches
186damaging thunderstorm winds
36floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 26, 2001F3Paris12 / 2
Dec 10, 2021EF3Cottage Grove0 / 0
May 7, 1984F3–36 / 0
Nov 15, 2005F2Paris13 / 0
May 4, 2003F2Paris0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 15, 2005TornadoParis$7M
Dec 10, 2021TornadoCottage Grove$4M
May 4, 2003TornadoParis$3M
May 7, 1984Tornado–$3M
Nov 26, 2001TornadoParis$2M
Apr 25, 2011Thunderstorm WindHenry$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 2, 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 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Henry County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1888most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 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 Henry County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (97 policies)
23.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$319,003paid on 40 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $187,441 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 Henry County

$160,200median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
25.3%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; 17,088 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
Calloway County, KYLow18
Graves County, KYModerate20
Weakley CountyLow19
Carroll CountyLow22
Benton CountyVery Low20
Stewart CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Henry County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Henry County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Henry County, about $19.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $9.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Henry County had?

Henry County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Henry County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 12th 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 Henry County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Henry 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 Henry County had?

NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Henry County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on November 26, 2001 near Paris. The weather service has also logged 92 hail reports and 36 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Henry County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Henry 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.