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Meigs County, Tennessee

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

Very Low overall risk
89th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$4Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Meigs County, Tennessee has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 87% of US counties. It ranks 89th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $4.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $317 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Meigs County

$1.9 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.
$509,488 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$491,272 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low21.3
$2M
TornadoLow35.6
$509K
Strong windModerate57.1
$491K
EarthquakeLow65.6
$459K
Cold waveLow36.5
$419K
LightningLow34.4
$95K
DroughtLow39.7
$47K
Heat waveVery Low19.0
$42K
HailVery Low16.0
$41K
Winter weatherVery Low20.8
$14K
Ice stormVery Low21.3
$13K
WildfireVery Low32.3
$12K
HurricaneVery Low28.2
$9K
LandslideLow76.1
$8K

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Winter Storm2
Flood1
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
May 17, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2015Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 7, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 17
Nov 13, 2002Severe Storms and TornadosMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash 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 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 201 storm reports in Meigs County since 1953, with 4 deaths and 11 injuries and about $11.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 2, 1953.

5tornadoes
43hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
130damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 2, 1953F4–8 / 4
Feb 21, 1993F1Midway To0 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF0Brittsville0 / 0
Jan 12, 2023EF0Decatur1 / 0
Mar 2, 2023EF0East View0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 6, 2003Flash FloodCountywide$9M
Feb 21, 1993TornadoMidway To$500K
May 2, 1953Tornado–$250K
May 17, 2003Thunderstorm WindBig Spg$75K
Jul 3, 2026Thunderstorm WindDecatur$50K
Feb 17, 1998Thunderstorm WindCountywide$45K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 12, 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 Meigs County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Zeta (2020), with top winds near 55 mph about 54 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 55 mph54 mi
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Oct 29, 2020ZetaTropical storm, 55 mph54 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 50 mph58 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 Meigs County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
2.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$17,729paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $15,213 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 Meigs County

$180,000median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1994median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
24%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
35.6%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; 6,275 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
Hamilton CountyModerate23
Bradley CountyLow16
Roane CountyLow22
McMinn CountyLow14
Rhea CountyLow19

Common questions about Meigs County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Meigs County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Meigs County, about $1.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $509,488.

How many federal disasters has Meigs County had?

Meigs County has been included in 17 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 Meigs County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 89th 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 Meigs County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Meigs 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 Meigs County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Meigs County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 2, 1953. The weather service has also logged 43 hail reports and 22 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Meigs County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Meigs 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.