Fentress County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 28th
Fentress County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 28.4, 28th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Fentress County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 28.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 28th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Fentress County's expected losses come from lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 57.43 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $14K in expected annual loss and about 1.14 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 1.16 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $6M in expected annual loss for a population of 18K.
Beyond physical exposure, Fentress County has a very 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 county's disaster history tells the same story: Fentress County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 11 for severe storm events and 2 for winter storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 95 Tennessee counties, Fentress County ranks #74 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 57.43 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Low | 1.14 / yr | $14K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.16 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $104K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 10.00 / yr | $80K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $303K |
| Hail | Low | 3.01 / yr | $183K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 5.39 / yr | $367K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.24 / yr | $755K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $34K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.64 / yr | $29K |
| Drought | Low | 10.67 / yr | $19K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.29 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $4K |
| 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
Fentress County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Winter Storm (2), Tornado (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 |
| May 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| May 2021 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| April 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Fentress County?
Fentress County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 28.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 28th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Fentress County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Landslide (Low, $14K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Fentress County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Fentress County ranks #74 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Fentress County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Fentress County since 1974, most often 11 for severe storm events and 2 for winter storm 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. Fentress County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.