Houston County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 13th
Houston County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 13.1, 13th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Houston County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 13.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 13th 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 Houston County's expected losses come from earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $881K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $650K in expected annual loss and about 4.65 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $1K in expected annual loss and about 0.94 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 8K.
Beyond physical exposure, Houston County has a medium 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Houston County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 17 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, Houston County ranks #87 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Low | 0.01 / yr | $881K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.65 / yr | $650K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.94 / yr | $1K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.17 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.32 / yr | $731K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.73 / yr | $50K |
| Drought | Very Low | 7.64 / yr | $26K |
| Lightning | Low | 57.48 / yr | $95K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 5.74 / yr | $106K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $9K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.20 / yr | $51K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.71 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 5.84 / yr | $5K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $994 |
| 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
Houston County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (17), Flood (3), Winter Storm (2).
| 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 |
| May 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| August 2021 | Flood | Severe Storm and Flooding |
| July 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| December 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
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 Houston County?
Houston County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 13.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 13th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Houston County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Low, $881K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $650K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $1K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Houston County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Houston County ranks #87 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Houston County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Houston County since 1975, most often 17 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. Houston County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.