Scott County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 26th
Scott County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 26.1, 26th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Scott County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 26.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 26th 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.
Most of Scott County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $33K in expected annual loss and about 1.76 events per year; cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.16 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $120K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $6M in expected annual loss for a population of 22K.
Beyond physical exposure, Scott 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: Scott County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 11 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, Scott County ranks #76 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 1.76 / yr | $33K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.16 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $120K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 8.58 / yr | $91K |
| Lightning | Medium | 56.56 / yr | $276K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $297K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 5.45 / yr | $418K |
| Hail | Low | 3.08 / yr | $180K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.22 / yr | $825K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.63 / yr | $49K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $31K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.04 / yr | $3M |
| Drought | Very Low | 13.30 / yr | $3K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $6K |
| 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
Scott County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), 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 |
| May 2021 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| April 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2015 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 26 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Scott County?
Scott County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 26.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 26th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Scott County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $33K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $120K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Scott County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Scott County ranks #76 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Scott County had?
FEMA records 26 federal disaster declarations for Scott County since 1972, most often 11 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. Scott County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.