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Overton County, Tennessee

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

Very Low overall risk
81st of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$7Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Overton County, Tennessee has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 81st of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, lightning and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $324 per resident. Since 1969 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 11 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $159,000 on 11 claims here.

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

Top risks in Overton County

$3 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.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 57 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
$994,492 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 Low27.4
$3M
LightningHigh90.7
$1M
TornadoLow45.2
$994K
Cold waveLow52.4
$971K
Strong windLow43.6
$427K
EarthquakeVery Low53.8
$310K
HailLow40.5
$169K
DroughtLow42.3
$78K
Winter weatherLow56.6
$76K
Ice stormLow40.4
$50K
Heat waveVery Low16.7
$41K
HurricaneVery Low39.7
$27K
WildfireVery Low28.3
$12K
LandslideVery Low47.6
$1K

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 Overton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood4
Tornado2
Severe Ice Storm2
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 2, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
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
Mar 16, 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds AndMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 21, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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
Mar 22, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 28, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 289 storm reports in Overton County since 1956, with 5 deaths and 134 injuries and about $28 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.

14tornadoes
59hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
170damaging thunderstorm winds
36floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–0 / 0
Apr 3, 1974F3–120 / 3
Mar 16, 1996F2Livingston1 / 0
Mar 2, 2012EF2Waterloo0 / 0
Mar 28, 1997F2Livingston2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 18, 2010FloodTimothy$10M
Mar 16, 1996TornadoLivingston$6M
Jul 15, 2009Flash FloodBonsack$4M
Apr 3, 1974Tornado–$3M
Mar 2, 2012TornadoWaterloo$1M
Feb 6, 2025TornadoHanging Limb$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 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 1957, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Overton 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
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph44 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph44 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 Overton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (11 policies)
15.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$159,413paid on 11 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $98,592 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 Overton County

$173,200median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
20.2%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; 10,406 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
Putnam CountyLow17
Fentress CountyVery Low22
Jackson CountyVery Low33
Clay CountyVery Low20
Pickett CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Overton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Overton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Overton County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Lightning is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Overton County had?

Overton County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Overton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 81st 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 Overton County?

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

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Overton County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 59 hail reports and 36 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Overton County?

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