Cocke County

Tennessee — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

54.5

National percentile: 55th

Cocke County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 54.5, 55th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $12M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $12M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very Low Capacity to recover
Population 36K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Medium $85K/yr
Earthquake
Low $841K/yr
Lightning
Medium $353K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Medium 1.58 / yr $85K
Earthquake Low 0.00 / yr $841K
Lightning Medium 52.95 / yr $353K
Riverine Flood Low 0.71 / yr $8M
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $62K
Hail Low 3.21 / yr $247K
Strong Wind Medium 3.81 / yr $428K
Ice Storm Low 0.28 / yr $69K
Cold Wave Low 1.67 / yr $685K
Drought Low 21.41 / yr $108K
Tornado Low 0.10 / yr $818K
Hurricane Very Low 0.01 / yr $15K
Winter Weather Very Low 9.71 / yr $14K
Heat Wave Very Low 0.28 / yr $34K
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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cocke County?

Cocke County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 54.5 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 55th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Cocke County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $85K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $841K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $353K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Cocke County compare to other Tennessee counties?

Cocke County ranks #50 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.

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. Cocke County's $12M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.