Meigs County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 13th
Meigs County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 12.7, 13th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Meigs County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 12.7 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.
Risk here concentrates in landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $8K in expected annual loss and about 0.44 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $459K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $491K in expected annual loss and about 4.83 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 13K.
Beyond physical exposure, Meigs 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: Meigs County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 10 for severe storm events and 2 for winter storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 95 Tennessee counties, Meigs County ranks #89 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 0.44 / yr | $8K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $459K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.83 / yr | $491K |
| Drought | Low | 23.22 / yr | $47K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.53 / yr | $419K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.11 / yr | $509K |
| Lightning | Low | 60.10 / yr | $95K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $12K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $9K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.47 / yr | $13K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.75 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.47 / yr | $14K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 1.68 / yr | $42K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.44 / yr | $41K |
| 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
Meigs County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Winter Storm (2), Biological (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 |
| September 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| May 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2015 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| October 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Meigs County?
Meigs County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 12.7 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 Meigs County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $8K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $459K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $491K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Meigs County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Meigs County ranks #89 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Meigs County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Meigs County since 1973, most often 10 for severe storm events and 2 for winter storm 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. Meigs County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.