Gibson County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 86th
Gibson County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 85.9, 86th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $49M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Gibson County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 85.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 86th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Gibson County's expected losses come from earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Medium risk — $27M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 0.46 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 57.85 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $49M in expected annual loss for a population of 50K.
Beyond physical exposure, Gibson County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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: Gibson County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 15 for severe storm events and 4 for tornado events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 95 Tennessee counties, Gibson County ranks #10 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $27M |
| Tornado | High | 0.46 / yr | $7M |
| Lightning | High | 57.85 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 2.42 / yr | $4M |
| Ice Storm | High | 1.13 / yr | $487K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 7.05 / yr | $207K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 13.79 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.14 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Medium | 7.57 / yr | $520K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.66 / yr | $2K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $94K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.61 / yr | $6M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.97 / yr | $33K |
| 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
Gibson County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (15), Tornado (4), Flood (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| June 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| December 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| May 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| January 2022 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| December 2021 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Gibson County?
Gibson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 85.9 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 86th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Gibson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Medium, $27M EAL), Tornado (High, $7M EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Gibson County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Gibson County ranks #10 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Gibson County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Gibson County since 1971, most often 15 for severe storm events and 4 for tornado 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. Gibson County's $49M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.