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Moore County, Tennessee

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

Very Low overall risk
92nd of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$4Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Moore County, Tennessee has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 90% of US counties. It ranks 92nd of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $4.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $645 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 4 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 Moore County

$2 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 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.
$421,965 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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 floodingVery Low19.2
$2M
TornadoLow50.5
$1M
Cold waveLow33.0
$422K
Strong windLow26.5
$220K
EarthquakeVery Low47.5
$213K
Heat waveVery Low17.3
$41K
HailVery Low12.2
$35K
Ice stormLow33.5
$34K
LightningVery Low11.3
$33K
Winter weatherLow25.4
$21K
HurricaneVery Low32.6
$15K
DroughtVery Low27.0
$14K
WildfireVery Low2.4
$787
LandslideVery Low40.6
$594

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 moderate 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 Moore County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm2
Winter Storm2
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
May 17, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoMajor disaster
May 8, 2021Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2015Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 13, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 1, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Mar 31, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 15, 1999Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergency
Mar 21, 1973Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 289 storm reports in Moore County since 1952, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $718,200 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on February 13, 1952.

13tornadoes
25hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
216damaging thunderstorm winds
30floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 13, 1952F4–9 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF2Lois0 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF2Cumberland Spgs0 / 0
Feb 28, 2011EF2Cumberland Spgs4 / 0
Oct 24, 2010EF1Pleasant Hill0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 13, 1952Tornado–$250K
Oct 24, 2010TornadoPleasant Hill$100K
Jul 4, 1997Thunderstorm WindLynchburg$50K
Apr 22, 1997LightningLynchburg$50K
Jun 15, 2011Thunderstorm WindChestnut Ridge$45K
Jul 10, 2013Thunderstorm WindChestnut Ridge$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 18, 2025. 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 1892, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Moore County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with top winds near 50 mph about 65 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Sep 13, 1892UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph15 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi
Jun 18, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi
Jun 18, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Sep 13, 1892UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph15 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 Moore County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
6.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Moore County

$285,300median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
32%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.1%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; 3,017 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
Coffee CountyLow19
Bedford CountyLow16
Franklin CountyLow13
Lincoln CountyLow15

Common questions about Moore County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Moore County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Moore County, about $2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Moore County had?

Moore County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Moore County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 92nd 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 Moore County?

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

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Moore County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on February 13, 1952. The weather service has also logged 25 hail reports and 30 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Moore County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Moore County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with winds near 50 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.