Claiborne County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 43th
Claiborne County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 42.8, 43th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Claiborne County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 42.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 43rd national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $85K in expected annual loss and about 1.67 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $354K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $718K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 32K.
Beyond physical exposure, Claiborne County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The federal record bears this out: Claiborne County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 8 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 95 Tennessee counties, Claiborne County ranks #64 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 1.67 / yr | $85K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.01 / yr | $354K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $718K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.05 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 8.74 / yr | $101K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.19 / yr | $548K |
| Lightning | Low | 53.10 / yr | $223K |
| Hail | Low | 3.03 / yr | $253K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.82 / yr | $5M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.12 / yr | $869K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $30K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.23 / yr | $37K |
| Drought | Very Low | 12.86 / yr | $17K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $13K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Claiborne County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (8), Flood (4), Winter Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| October 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| May 2021 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2015 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| August 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Claiborne County?
Claiborne County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 42.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 43th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Claiborne County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $85K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $354K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $718K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Claiborne County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Claiborne County ranks #64 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Claiborne County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Claiborne County since 1973, most often 8 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in February 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Claiborne County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.