Jackson County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 23th
Jackson County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 22.5, 23th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Jackson County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 22.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 23rd 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.
Risk here concentrates in landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $2K in expected annual loss and about 0.91 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $183K in expected annual loss and about 3.17 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Low risk — $816K in expected annual loss and about 0.22 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 12K.
Beyond physical exposure, Jackson County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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: Jackson County has received 35 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 19 for severe storm events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 95 Tennessee counties, Jackson County ranks #80 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 0.91 / yr | $2K |
| Hail | Low | 3.17 / yr | $183K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.22 / yr | $816K |
| Lightning | Low | 57.12 / yr | $137K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 7.53 / yr | $36K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 5.94 / yr | $309K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $138K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.16 / yr | $388K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.74 / yr | $30K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.82 / yr | $3M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $6K |
| Drought | Very Low | 10.41 / yr | $8K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.21 / yr | $54K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1K |
| 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
Jackson County has received 35 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (19), Flood (6), Tornado (3).
| 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 |
| May 2021 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| April 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 35 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Jackson County?
Jackson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 22.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 23th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jackson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $2K EAL), Hail (Low, $183K EAL), Tornado (Low, $816K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jackson County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Jackson County ranks #80 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Jackson County had?
FEMA records 35 federal disaster declarations for Jackson County since 1969, most often 19 for severe storm events and 6 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. Jackson County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.