Putnam County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 66th
Putnam County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 65.8, 66th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $24M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Putnam County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 65.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 66th 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 lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 58.30 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 0.26 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $24M in expected annual loss for a population of 80K.
Beyond physical exposure, Putnam County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
History supports the rating: Putnam County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 6 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, Putnam County ranks #32 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 58.30 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.26 / yr | $6M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $3M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 9.53 / yr | $261K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.21 / yr | $4M |
| Hail | Low | 3.17 / yr | $619K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.72 / yr | $246K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.53 / yr | $998K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.14 / yr | $9M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.79 / yr | $2K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $59K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 1.05 / yr | $178K |
| Drought | Very Low | 15.80 / yr | $25K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / 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
Putnam County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (6), Winter Storm (3), Severe Ice Storm (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 |
| March 2023 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2020 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| June 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2015 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm 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 Putnam County?
Putnam County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 65.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 66th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Putnam County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $6M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Putnam County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Putnam County ranks #32 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Putnam County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Putnam County since 1974, most often 6 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. Putnam County's $24M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.