Giles County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 61th
Giles County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 60.9, 61th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $18M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Giles County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 60.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 61st 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.
Risk here concentrates in strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 6.81 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 0.56 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 1.16 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $18M in expected annual loss for a population of 30K.
Beyond physical exposure, Giles County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a 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: Giles County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 14 for severe storm events and 3 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 95 Tennessee counties, Giles County ranks #40 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | High | 6.81 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.56 / yr | $4M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.16 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.36 / yr | $7M |
| Lightning | Medium | 61.65 / yr | $260K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 1.16 / yr | $2K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $115K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.71 / yr | $77K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 4.47 / yr | $47K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.95 / yr | $233K |
| Drought | Low | 24.83 / yr | $29K |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.12 / yr | $83K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6K |
| 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
Giles County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (14), Flood (3), 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 |
| June 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| May 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| April 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 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 Giles County?
Giles County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 60.9 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 61th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Giles County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (High, $1M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $4M EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Giles County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Giles County ranks #40 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Giles County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Giles County since 1973, most often 14 for severe storm events and 3 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. Giles County's $18M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.