Perry County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 33th
Perry County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 33.4, 33th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Perry County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 33.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 33rd 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 earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $609K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $3K in expected annual loss and about 1.61 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.30 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 8K.
Beyond physical exposure, Perry 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.
History supports the rating: Perry County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 15 for severe storm events and 3 for winter storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 95 Tennessee counties, Perry County ranks #71 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $609K |
| Landslide | Low | 1.61 / yr | $3K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.30 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.21 / yr | $801K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.89 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $23K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.84 / yr | $223K |
| Lightning | Low | 58.66 / yr | $73K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 5.79 / yr | $90K |
| Drought | Very Low | 10.22 / yr | $13K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.69 / yr | $13K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 5.00 / yr | $5K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.20 / yr | $12K |
| 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
Perry County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (15), Winter Storm (3), Flood (3).
| 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 |
| March 2023 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 24 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Perry County?
Perry County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 33.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 33th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Perry County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Low, $609K EAL), Landslide (Low, $3K EAL), Tornado (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Perry County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Perry County ranks #71 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Perry County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Perry County since 1975, most often 15 for severe storm events and 3 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. Perry County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.