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Loudon County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Low overall risk
30th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$22Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Loudon County, Tennessee has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 68% of US counties. It ranks 30th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $405 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (72 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $509,000 on 45 claims here.

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

Top risks in Loudon County

$11.4 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.
$4.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 195 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow71.6
$11M
EarthquakeLow89.7
$4M
Cold waveModerate73.7
$2M
TornadoModerate67.0
$2M
Strong windModerate82.6
$1M
DroughtModerate72.1
$482K
LightningModerate73.9
$462K
Ice stormModerate61.3
$116K
HailVery Low33.6
$112K
Heat waveVery Low29.9
$109K
Winter weatherModerate68.7
$100K
HurricaneVery Low53.1
$82K
LandslideModerate87.4
$33K
WildfireVery Low44.1
$27K

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood2
Winter Storm2
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 2, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Sep 27, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 23, 2017Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2015Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 20, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, AndMajor disaster
May 1, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 18
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1999Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Apr 20, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
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 323 storm reports in Loudon County since 1957, with 2 deaths and 60 injuries and about $12.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on February 21, 1993.

9tornadoes
65hail reports, largest 4 inches
226damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 21, 1993F3–55 / 1
Apr 3, 1974F2–2 / 0
May 7, 1984F2–0 / 0
Apr 25, 2010EF1Greenback0 / 0
Oct 26, 2010EF1Greenback0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 21, 1993Tornado–$5M
May 5, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$4M
Apr 27, 1994HailLenoir City$500K
Aug 7, 2023Thunderstorm WindLoudon$500K
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$250K
May 7, 1984Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 30, 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 1975, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Loudon County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Zeta (2020), with top winds near 55 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
2024most recent: Helene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 45 mph53 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 45 mph53 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 Loudon County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (72 policies)
13%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$509,419paid on 45 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest year, with $118,336 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 Loudon County

$348,000median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1992median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
35%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.5%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; 26,043 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
Knox CountyModerate17
Blount CountyLow16
Roane CountyLow22
McMinn CountyLow14
Monroe CountyLow16

Common questions about Loudon County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Loudon County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Loudon County, about $11.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $4.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Loudon County had?

Loudon County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Loudon County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 30th 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 Loudon County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Loudon 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 Loudon County had?

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Loudon County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on February 21, 1993. The weather service has also logged 65 hail reports and 22 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Loudon County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Loudon County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Zeta (2020), with winds near 55 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.