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Weakley County, Tennessee

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

Relatively Low overall risk
20th of 95highest risk in Tennessee
$35Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Weakley County, Tennessee has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 74% of US counties. It ranks 20th of 95 counties in Tennessee. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $35 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,053 per resident. Since 1975 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 25 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $74,000 on 17 claims here.

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

Top risks in Weakley County

Earthquake

Moderate
$18.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 95 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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
EarthquakeModerate95.7
$18M
Cold waveModerate84.7
$5M
TornadoModerate77.9
$4M
Inland floodingVery Low21.9
$3M
LightningHigh92.7
$2M
Strong windModerate70.3
$1M
Heat waveLow68.6
$911K
Ice stormModerate81.4
$483K
DroughtModerate66.2
$437K
Winter weatherModerate71.6
$146K
HurricaneVery Low47.6
$63K
HailVery Low10.6
$36K
WildfireVery Low13.8
$5K
LandslideVery Low59.3
$3K

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm11
Tornado3
Winter Storm2
Flood1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

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
Mar 11, 2022Severe Winter StormMajor 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
Aug 13, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
May 1, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2006Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor 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
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 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 318 storm reports in Weakley County since 1953, with 3 deaths and 64 injuries and about $18.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on December 10, 2021 near Sidonia.

29tornadoes
75hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
168damaging thunderstorm winds
35floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 10, 2021EF3Sidonia30 / 0
Nov 27, 1994F3Latham2 / 0
Apr 2, 2006F3Greenfield2 / 0
May 4, 2003F2Martin0 / 0
Apr 2, 1982F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 10, 2021TornadoSidonia$6M
Nov 27, 1994TornadoLatham$5M
Apr 25, 2011Thunderstorm WindSharon$1M
May 4, 2003TornadoMartin$750K
Apr 19, 2011Thunderstorm WindSharon$558K
Apr 14, 1993Thunderstorm WindSharon$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 Weakley County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 47 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph47 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph47 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 Weakley County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (25 policies)
23.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$73,870paid on 17 flood claims since 1978
1990costliest year, with $20,806 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 Weakley County

$151,200median home value (Tennessee $286,700, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Tennessee 1987, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.5%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; 15,056 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
Graves County, KYModerate20
Henry CountyModerate19
Obion CountyModerate20
Carroll CountyLow22
Hickman County, KYVery Low26

Common questions about Weakley County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Weakley County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Weakley County, about $18.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $5.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Weakley County had?

Weakley County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Weakley County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 20th 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 Weakley County?

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

NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Weakley County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on December 10, 2021 near Sidonia. The weather service has also logged 75 hail reports and 35 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Weakley County?

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