Grainger County

Tennessee — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

18.6

National percentile: 19th

Grainger County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 18.6, 19th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $5M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very Low Capacity to recover
Population 24K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Medium $42K/yr
Earthquake
Low $525K/yr
Wildfire
Very Low $33K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Medium 1.12 / yr $42K
Earthquake Low 0.00 / yr $525K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $33K
Strong Wind Low 5.04 / yr $395K
Lightning Low 52.04 / yr $141K
Drought Low 16.23 / yr $64K
Tornado Low 0.08 / yr $616K
Hail Low 2.98 / yr $108K
Ice Storm Low 0.25 / yr $30K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.54 / yr $3M
Winter Weather Low 5.05 / yr $25K
Cold Wave Low 0.63 / yr $295K
Hurricane Very Low 0.01 / yr $7K
Heat Wave Very Low 0.47 / yr $25K
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 Grainger County?

Grainger County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 18.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 19th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Grainger County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $42K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $525K EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $33K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Grainger County compare to other Tennessee counties?

Grainger County ranks #84 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very 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. Grainger County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.