Hawkins County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 56th
Hawkins County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 55.8, 56th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Hawkins County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 55.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 56th 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 landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.47 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $455K in expected annual loss and about 50.91 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $794K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $14M in expected annual loss for a population of 57K.
Beyond physical exposure, Hawkins 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.
History supports the rating: Hawkins County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 4 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, Hawkins County ranks #49 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | High | 1.47 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 50.91 / yr | $455K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $794K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.23 / yr | $785K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.93 / yr | $8M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 7.48 / yr | $69K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $37K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.10 / yr | $913K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.84 / yr | $569K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.14 / yr | $44K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $20K |
| Drought | Low | 14.32 / yr | $28K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.88 / yr | $47K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $20K |
| 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
Hawkins County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (4), 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 |
| October 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 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 |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Hawkins County?
Hawkins County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 55.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 56th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Hawkins County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (High, $2M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $455K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $794K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Hawkins County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Hawkins County ranks #49 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Hawkins County had?
FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Hawkins County since 1973, most often 4 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. Hawkins County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.