Overton County, Tennessee
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 27.4 | $3M | ||
| Lightning | 90.7 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 45.2 | $994K | ||
| Cold wave | 52.4 | $971K | ||
| Strong wind | 43.6 | $427K | ||
| Earthquake | 53.8 | $310K | ||
| Hail | 40.5 | $169K | ||
| Drought | 42.3 | $78K | ||
| Winter weather | 56.6 | $76K | ||
| Ice storm | 40.4 | $50K | ||
| Heat wave | 16.7 | $41K | ||
| Hurricane | 39.7 | $27K | ||
| Wildfire | 28.3 | $12K | ||
| Landslide | 47.6 | $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
Most recent
Show all 19
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1974 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | F3 | – | 120 / 3 |
| Mar 16, 1996 | F2 | Livingston | 1 / 0 |
| Mar 2, 2012 | EF2 | Waterloo | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 1997 | F2 | Livingston | 2 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 2010 | Flood | Timothy | $10M |
| Mar 16, 1996 | Tornado | Livingston | $6M |
| Jul 15, 2009 | Flash Flood | Bonsack | $4M |
| Apr 3, 1974 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Mar 2, 2012 | Tornado | Waterloo | $1M |
| Feb 6, 2025 | Tornado | Hanging 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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
| Jun 28, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 44 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
| Jun 28, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 44 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | Earthquake | |
| Davidson County | Inland flooding | |
| Knox County | Inland flooding | |
| Hamilton County | Inland flooding | |
| Rutherford County | Inland flooding | |
| Williamson County | Inland flooding | |
| Montgomery County | Inland flooding | |
| Sumner County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Putnam County | 17 | |
| Fentress County | 22 | |
| Jackson County | 33 | |
| Clay County | 20 | |
| Pickett County | 19 |
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.