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Tipton County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
14th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$34Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Tipton 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 14th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, tornadoes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $34 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $562 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (136 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.2 million on 145 claims here, including $2.7 million for floods in 2010.

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

Top risks in Tipton County

Earthquake

Moderate
$13.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 100 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$7.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$5.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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
EarthquakeModerate95.8
$13M
TornadoHigh92.8
$7M
Inland floodingLow53.9
$6M
Cold waveModerate84.0
$4M
Heat waveModerate90.3
$2M
Ice stormHigh90.9
$791K
LightningModerate78.2
$517K
Strong windLow41.6
$333K
DroughtLow57.6
$186K
HailLow34.8
$111K
HurricaneVery Low46.5
$40K
Winter weatherLow24.9
$18K
WildfireVery Low32.0
$12K
LandslideLow70.9
$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 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 Tipton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm15
Flood3
Winter Storm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

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
Sep 4, 2023Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 17, 2023Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
May 17, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoMajor disaster
Apr 7, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 11, 2022Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 23
Aug 13, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 7, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 8, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 13, 2002Severe Storms and TornadosMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 7, 1997Heavy Rains, Tornadoes, Flooding, Hail, High WindsMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash 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 1964

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 360 storm reports in Tipton County since 1964, with 10 deaths and 68 injuries and about $119 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1968.

28tornadoes
98hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
174damaging thunderstorm winds
55floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1968F3–28 / 4
Mar 31, 2023EF3Munford28 / 1
Mar 31, 2023EF3Dixonville0 / 0
Nov 9, 2002F2Randolph1 / 0
Mar 31, 2023EF2Dixonville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 31, 2023TornadoMunford$80M
May 1, 2010Flash FloodDetroit$21M
Nov 9, 2002TornadoRandolph$6M
Jun 19, 2025Flash FloodMason$5M
Apr 3, 1968Tornado–$3M
Apr 19, 2011Thunderstorm WindAtoka$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 11, 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 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Tipton County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 65 mph about 52 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1969most recent: Camille

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph52 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 35 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 35 mph57 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 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 Tipton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (136 policies)
28.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.2 millionpaid on 145 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $2.7 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 Tipton County

$240,600median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1993median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
30%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.4%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; 24,417 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
Shelby CountyHigh26
Crittenden County, ARModerate19
Fayette CountyLow19
Mississippi County, ARModerate19
Lauderdale CountyLow22
Haywood CountyLow19

Common questions about Tipton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tipton County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Tipton County, about $13.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $7.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Tipton County had?

Tipton County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Tipton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 14th 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 Tipton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Tipton 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 Tipton County had?

NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Tipton County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1968. The weather service has also logged 98 hail reports and 55 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Tipton County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Tipton County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 65 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.