Johnson County, Tennessee
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Johnson County, Tennessee has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 72% of US counties. It ranks 75th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $328 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (104 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.2 million on 51 claims here, including $1.9 million for floods in 2024.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Johnson County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 47.2 | $4M | ||
| Cold wave | 63.0 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 25.4 | $236K | ||
| Strong wind | 36.2 | $228K | ||
| Earthquake | 46.9 | $147K | ||
| Lightning | 48.0 | $137K | ||
| Drought | 47.8 | $79K | ||
| Hurricane | 51.1 | $51K | ||
| Wildfire | 54.9 | $39K | ||
| Landslide | 90.7 | $39K | ||
| Ice storm | 37.3 | $29K | ||
| Hail | 14.0 | $29K | ||
| Winter weather | 30.0 | $19K | ||
| Heat wave | 2.0 | $0 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Johnson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 18
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 121 storm reports in Johnson County since 1957, with 3 deaths and 3 injuries and about $9.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Doeville.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF2 | Doeville | 0 / 2 |
| Jun 3, 1998 | F1 | Doeville | 3 / 0 |
| May 12, 2017 | EF0 | Shady Vly | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Flash Flood | Trade | $7M |
| Apr 27, 2011 | Tornado | Doeville | $1M |
| Feb 23, 2019 | Flood | Neva | $900K |
| Jan 7, 1998 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $500K |
| Jun 3, 1998 | Tornado | Doeville | $200K |
| Jun 3, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Shady Vly | $33K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 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 1949, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Johnson County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with top winds near 65 mph about 39 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 39 mi |
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 29, 2020 | Zeta | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 22 mi |
| Sep 30, 1959 | Gracie | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2020 | Zeta | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 22 mi |
| Sep 22, 1989 | Hugo | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 39 mi |
| Sep 30, 1959 | Gracie | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 59 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 Johnson County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Johnson County
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; 8,761 housing units.
Compare in Tennessee
All 95 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | Earthquake | |
| Davidson County | Inland flooding | |
| Knox County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| Rutherford County | Inland flooding | |
| Williamson County | Inland flooding | |
| Montgomery County | Inland flooding | |
| Sumner County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Sullivan County | 10 | |
| Carter County | 16 | |
| Watauga County, NC | 22 | |
| Washington County, VA | 18 | |
| Ashe County, NC | 24 | |
| Avery County, NC | 20 | |
| Grayson County, VA | 19 |
Common questions about Johnson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Johnson County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Johnson County, about $3.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1 million.
How many federal disasters has Johnson County had?
Johnson County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.
Is Johnson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 75th 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 Johnson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Johnson 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 Johnson County had?
NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Johnson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Doeville. The weather service has also logged 23 hail reports and 22 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Johnson County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Johnson County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Hugo (1989), with winds near 65 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.