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Robertson County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Low overall risk
42nd of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$24Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Robertson County, Tennessee has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 60% of US counties. It ranks 42nd of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $24 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $330 per resident. Since 1975 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (52 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.2 million on 71 claims here, including $792,000 for floods in 2017.

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

Top risks in Robertson County

$8.1 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.
$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 240 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.6 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow53.1
$8M
EarthquakeLow88.7
$5M
Cold waveModerate78.1
$4M
TornadoModerate73.2
$3M
Strong windModerate83.7
$2M
Heat waveLow64.8
$811K
HailLow70.2
$623K
Ice stormModerate79.5
$437K
LightningModerate60.1
$377K
DroughtLow59.5
$306K
Winter weatherLow32.2
$37K
HurricaneVery Low32.9
$20K
WildfireVery Low23.6
$11K
LandslideVery Low31.2
$380

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 low 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 Robertson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood2
Winter Storm2
Hurricane1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 2, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Dec 13, 2023Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 17, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 4, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 20, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 12
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 509 storm reports in Robertson County since 1955, with 3 deaths and 93 injuries and about $35.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 27, 1970.

30tornadoes
122hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
294damaging thunderstorm winds
49floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 1970F4–75 / 2
Apr 16, 1998F3Adams0 / 0
Dec 9, 2023EF2Springfield4 / 0
Jan 30, 2013EF2Chestnut Grove0 / 0
Apr 3, 1998F2Springfield3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 9, 2023TornadoSpringfield$10M
May 4, 2003TornadoStroudsville$5M
Apr 27, 1970Tornado–$3M
May 8, 2024Flash FloodOrlinda$2M
May 8, 2024Flash FloodSpringfield Muni Arp$2M
May 8, 2024Flash FloodBaggettsville$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Robertson County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 52 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph52 mi
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph44 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 1979FredericTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 40 mph44 mi
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph52 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 Robertson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (52 policies)
17.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.2 millionpaid on 71 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $792,101 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 Robertson County

$335,000median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1994median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
30%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.4%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; 29,824 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
Davidson CountyHigh25
Montgomery CountyModerate20
Sumner CountyModerate20
Cheatham CountyLow23
Logan County, KYLow17
Simpson County, KYVery Low18
Todd County, KYVery Low18

Common questions about Robertson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Robertson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Robertson County, about $8.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $4.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Robertson County had?

Robertson County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Robertson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 42nd 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 Robertson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Robertson 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 Robertson County had?

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Robertson County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 27, 1970. The weather service has also logged 122 hail reports and 49 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Robertson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Robertson 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.