Roane County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 69th
Roane County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 69.0, 69th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $22M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Roane County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 69.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 69th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $65K in expected annual loss and about 1.42 events per year; cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.58 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $22M in expected annual loss for a population of 53K.
Beyond physical exposure, Roane County has a high 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). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: Roane County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 12 for severe storm events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 95 Tennessee counties, Roane County ranks #29 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 1.42 / yr | $65K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.58 / yr | $5M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.10 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 59.27 / yr | $534K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.16 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 4.42 / yr | $102K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.25 / yr | $10M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.57 / yr | $112K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $50K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $32K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.89 / yr | $103K |
| Drought | Very Low | 20.41 / yr | $13K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.04 / yr | $42K |
| 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
Roane County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (12), Flood (5), Winter 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 |
| September 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| June 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2015 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| August 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
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 Roane County?
Roane County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 69.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 69th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Roane County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $65K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $5M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Roane County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Roane County ranks #29 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Roane County had?
FEMA records 24 federal disaster declarations for Roane County since 1973, most often 12 for severe storm events and 5 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. Roane County's $22M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.