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Morgan County, Tennessee

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

Very Low overall risk
82nd of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$6Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Morgan County, Tennessee has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 81% of US counties. It ranks 82nd of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $308 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 9 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 Morgan County

$2.7 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.
$1.5 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.
$758,535 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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 floodingVery Low25.7
$3M
Cold waveLow64.6
$2M
TornadoLow39.3
$759K
Strong windModerate55.3
$586K
EarthquakeVery Low58.3
$381K
LightningLow40.8
$151K
WildfireLow63.5
$100K
Winter weatherLow59.1
$80K
Ice stormLow34.4
$37K
HailVery Low11.6
$34K
LandslideLow84.5
$26K
HurricaneVery Low33.4
$17K
DroughtVery Low24.8
$11K
Heat waveVery Low4.5
$5K

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood4
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 2, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Apr 7, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor 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
Mar 31, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
Nov 13, 2002Severe Storms and TornadosMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1999Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Apr 20, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes 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
Jan 4, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 28, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 324 storm reports in Morgan County since 1961, with 9 deaths and 46 injuries and about $4.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on November 10, 2002 near Wartburg.

9tornadoes
70hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
209damaging thunderstorm winds
36floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 10, 2002F3Wartburg28 / 7
Apr 3, 1974F3–6 / 0
Feb 6, 2025EF2Adkins Mill3 / 2
Apr 2, 2024EF1Sunbright0 / 0
Mar 17, 1965F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 10, 2002TornadoWartburg$968K
Feb 6, 2025TornadoAdkins Mill$700K
May 18, 1995HailCoalfield$500K
Jul 19, 2010Flash FloodOakdale$200K
Feb 28, 2011FloodSunbright$146K
May 15, 2003Thunderstorm WindSunbright$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 7, 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 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Morgan County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with top winds near 45 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1979most recent: Frederic

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 24, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 24, 1975EloiseTropical storm, 45 mph61 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 Morgan County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (9 policies)
13.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$57,954paid on 8 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $37,982 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 Morgan County

$166,300median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
26.6%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; 8,566 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
Anderson CountyLow20
Cumberland CountyLow24
Roane CountyLow22
Scott CountyVery Low24
Fentress CountyVery Low22

Common questions about Morgan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Morgan County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Morgan County, about $2.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Morgan County had?

Morgan County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Morgan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 82nd 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 Morgan County?

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

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Morgan County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on November 10, 2002 near Wartburg. The weather service has also logged 70 hail reports and 36 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Morgan County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Morgan County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with winds near 45 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.