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Montgomery County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
8th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$78Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Montgomery County, Tennessee has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 87% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $78 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $354 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (254 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $11 million on 313 claims here, including $6.7 million for floods in 2010.

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

Top risks in Montgomery County

$28.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$18.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 185 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$12.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate84.5
$29M
EarthquakeModerate95.3
$18M
Cold waveHigh94.2
$12M
TornadoHigh91.9
$10M
Heat waveModerate84.3
$2M
Strong windHigh87.6
$2M
HailModerate87.2
$2M
LightningHigh91.1
$1M
Ice stormHigh91.8
$1M
DroughtLow43.1
$102K
Winter weatherLow56.7
$94K
HurricaneVery Low40.9
$36K
WildfireVery Low28.2
$15K
LandslideVery Low52.7
$2K

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 low 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 Montgomery County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm14
Winter Storm2
Flood1
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

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
Jun 17, 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 2023Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 17, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoMajor disaster
Dec 6, 2019Severe Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 1, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 20
May 4, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor 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
Nov 13, 2002Severe Storms and TornadosMajor disaster
Jan 19, 1999Severe Storms, Tornadoes and High WindsMajor disaster
Mar 7, 1997Heavy Rains, Tornadoes, Flooding, Hail, High WindsMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Tennessee also had 1 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 531 storm reports in Montgomery County since 1955, with 8 deaths and 81 injuries and about $123 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 27, 1970.

36tornadoes
86hail reports, largest 3 inches
321damaging thunderstorm winds
74floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 1970F4–0 / 0
Dec 9, 2023EF3Woodlawn62 / 4
Jan 22, 1999F3Clarksville5 / 0
May 4, 2003F3Clarksville1 / 0
Feb 24, 2018EF2St Bethlehem2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 22, 1999TornadoClarksville$73M
Dec 9, 2023TornadoWoodlawn$20M
Feb 24, 2018TornadoSt Bethlehem$7M
Oct 26, 2019Thunderstorm WindShiloh$4M
Apr 27, 1970Tornado–$3M
May 1, 2010FloodFt Campbell$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Montgomery County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 49 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1957most recent: Audrey

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph49 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph49 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 Montgomery County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (254 policies)
52.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$10.9 millionpaid on 313 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $6.7 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 Montgomery County

$280,200median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1998median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
25%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.5%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; 93,445 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
Robertson CountyLow12
Christian County, KYLow23
Dickson CountyLow25
Cheatham CountyLow23
Stewart CountyVery Low21
Todd County, KYVery Low18
Houston CountyVery Low26

Cities in Montgomery County

Common questions about Montgomery County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Montgomery County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Montgomery County, about $28.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $18.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Montgomery County had?

Montgomery County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Montgomery County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 8th 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 Montgomery County?

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

NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Montgomery County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 27, 1970. The weather service has also logged 86 hail reports and 74 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Montgomery County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Montgomery 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.