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Johnson County, Tennessee

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

Very Low overall risk
75th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$6Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$3.8 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.
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Tornado

Very Low
$235,654 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 20 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
Inland floodingLow47.2
$4M
Cold waveLow63.0
$1M
TornadoVery Low25.4
$236K
Strong windLow36.2
$228K
EarthquakeVery Low46.9
$147K
LightningLow48.0
$137K
DroughtLow47.8
$79K
HurricaneVery Low51.1
$51K
WildfireVery Low54.9
$39K
LandslideModerate90.7
$39K
Ice stormLow37.3
$29K
HailVery Low14.0
$29K
Winter weatherLow30.0
$19K
Heat waveVery Low2.0
$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

Severe Storm7
Flood4
Tropical Storm2
Winter Storm2
Tornado1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 2, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Oct 2, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 27, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneEmergency
Apr 7, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 1, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 7, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 18
Mar 20, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 15, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1994Extensive Rainfall and Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Nov 12, 1977Severe 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 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.

3tornadoes
23hail reports, largest 2 inches
72damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 2011EF2Doeville0 / 2
Jun 3, 1998F1Doeville3 / 0
May 12, 2017EF0Shady Vly0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 27, 2024Flash FloodTrade$7M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoDoeville$1M
Feb 23, 2019FloodNeva$900K
Jan 7, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$500K
Jun 3, 1998TornadoDoeville$200K
Jun 3, 1998Thunderstorm WindShady 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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
2020most recent: Zeta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 65 mph39 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 50 mph22 mi
Sep 30, 1959GracieTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 50 mph22 mi
Sep 22, 1989HugoTropical storm, 65 mph39 mi
Sep 30, 1959GracieTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Aug 28, 1949UnnamedTropical 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 Johnson County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (104 policies)
24.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.2 millionpaid on 51 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $1.9 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 Johnson County

$178,600median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
23.4%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; 8,761 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
Sullivan CountyLow10
Carter CountyLow16
Watauga County, NCLow22
Washington County, VALow18
Ashe County, NCLow24
Avery County, NCLow20
Grayson County, VAVery Low19

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.