Monroe County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 61th
Monroe County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 60.9, 61th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $16M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Monroe County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 60.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 61st 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 Medium risk — $112K in expected annual loss and about 2.85 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $924K in expected annual loss and about 4.70 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $16M in expected annual loss for a population of 46K.
Beyond physical exposure, Monroe County has a 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: Monroe County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 8 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, Monroe County ranks #41 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 2.85 / yr | $112K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.01 / yr | $3M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.70 / yr | $924K |
| Lightning | Medium | 58.12 / yr | $373K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $115K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.11 / yr | $8M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.26 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.17 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.03 / yr | $156K |
| Drought | Low | 25.77 / yr | $154K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.47 / yr | $74K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 6.00 / yr | $39K |
| Hail | Low | 3.34 / yr | $137K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.84 / yr | $124K |
| 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
Monroe County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (8), 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 |
| May 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2015 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| March 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and |
| May 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Monroe County?
Monroe County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 60.9 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 61th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Monroe County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $112K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $3M EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $924K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Monroe County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Monroe County ranks #41 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Monroe County had?
FEMA records 18 federal disaster declarations for Monroe County since 1973, most often 8 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. Monroe County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.