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Obion County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
13th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$35Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Obion County, Tennessee has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 81% of US counties. It ranks 13th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, cold waves and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $35 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,133 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (130 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.9 million on 191 claims here.

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

Top risks in Obion County

Earthquake

Moderate
$19.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 65 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Cold wave

Moderate
$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$3.5 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate96.6
$20M
Cold waveModerate88.7
$5M
Inland floodingLow38.1
$4M
TornadoModerate70.6
$2M
Heat waveModerate81.7
$1M
Ice stormHigh92.3
$912K
Strong windModerate75.8
$884K
DroughtModerate81.5
$790K
LightningModerate72.5
$422K
Winter weatherModerate78.0
$146K
HailLow37.8
$127K
HurricaneVery Low48.4
$49K
LandslideLow73.9
$7K
WildfireVery Low14.7
$4K

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood4
Tornado3
Severe Ice Storm2
Winter Storm2
Hurricane1

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
May 17, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoMajor disaster
Jan 14, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 13, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesEmergency
Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2015Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 20
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 7, 1997Heavy Rains, Tornadoes, Flooding, Hail, High WindsMajor disaster
Jan 4, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 280 storm reports in Obion County since 1954, with 3 deaths and 5 injuries and about $22.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on December 10, 2021 near Lassiter Corner.

25tornadoes
57hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
150damaging thunderstorm winds
44floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 10, 2021EF2Lassiter Corner0 / 1
Mar 9, 2017EF2Woodland Mills0 / 0
Dec 11, 1967F2–1 / 0
May 23, 1973F2–0 / 0
Apr 2, 1982F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 16, 2025Flash FloodRives$5M
Dec 10, 2021TornadoLassiter Corner$3M
May 4, 2021Thunderstorm WindUnion City$3M
Feb 24, 2018TornadoGibbs$2M
Apr 6, 2025FloodRives$2M
Aug 4, 2023Flash FloodUnion City$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 16, 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 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Obion County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 50 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1888most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph50 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph50 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 Obion County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (130 policies)
21.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.9 millionpaid on 191 flood claims since 1978
2023costliest year, with $1.1 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 Obion County

$133,600median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.9%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; 14,326 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
Gibson CountyModerate26
Dyer CountyModerate22
Weakley CountyLow19
Lake CountyLow20
Fulton County, KYLow24
Hickman County, KYVery Low26

Common questions about Obion County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Obion County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Obion County, about $19.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $4.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Obion County had?

Obion County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Obion County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 13th 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 Obion County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Obion 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 Obion County had?

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Obion County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on December 10, 2021 near Lassiter Corner. The weather service has also logged 57 hail reports and 44 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Obion County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Obion 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.