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Hickman County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Low overall risk
57th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$13Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Hickman County, Tennessee has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 53% of US counties. It ranks 57th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $512 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 45 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.6 million on 54 claims here, including $3.9 million for floods in 2021.

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

Top risks in Hickman County

$5.1 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.7 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.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 260 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow46.8
$5M
TornadoModerate82.2
$4M
EarthquakeLow82.2
$2M
Cold waveLow57.8
$1M
Strong windLow50.2
$471K
Heat waveLow43.7
$232K
LightningLow37.3
$124K
Ice stormLow48.2
$67K
DroughtLow36.0
$39K
Winter weatherVery Low19.5
$15K
HailVery Low5.4
$12K
HurricaneVery Low29.5
$11K
WildfireVery Low12.0
$3K
LandslideLow65.4
$3K

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 moderate and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood5
Winter Storm2
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1
Tornado1

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
Aug 23, 2021Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
May 8, 2021Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 13, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 23
Apr 11, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 1, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated 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
Jun 12, 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1999Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 21, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 7, 1979Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 21, 1973Heavy Rains & 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 378 storm reports in Hickman County since 1952, with 5 deaths and 21 injuries and about $11 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on March 22, 1952.

23tornadoes
76hail reports, largest 3 inches
227damaging thunderstorm winds
45floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 22, 1952F2–10 / 3
May 2, 2010EF2Coble1 / 0
Jan 30, 2013EF2Coble0 / 0
Feb 5, 2008EF2Primm Spgs1 / 0
May 2, 2010EF2Graham Station0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 2, 2010FloodBon Aqua$4M
Dec 23, 2015TornadoFarmers Exchange$1M
May 2, 2010TornadoCoble$610K
Jan 30, 2013TornadoCoble$600K
May 3, 2020Thunderstorm WindLyles$533K
Feb 5, 2008TornadoPrimm Spgs$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 Hickman County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph47 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph47 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 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 Hickman County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (45 policies)
12.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.6 millionpaid on 54 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $3.9 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 Hickman County

$224,100median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1989median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
25%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; 10,711 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
Williamson CountyModerate14
Maury CountyLow19
Dickson CountyLow25
Humphreys CountyLow24
Lewis CountyVery Low22
Perry CountyVery Low22

Common questions about Hickman County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hickman County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hickman County, about $5.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Hickman County had?

Hickman County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Hickman County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 57th 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 Hickman County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Hickman 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 Hickman County had?

NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Hickman County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on March 22, 1952. The weather service has also logged 76 hail reports and 45 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Hickman County?

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