Stewart County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 29th
Stewart County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 29.4, 29th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Stewart County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 29.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 29th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $541K in expected annual loss and about 56.58 events per year; and ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $150K in expected annual loss and about 1.09 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 14K.
Beyond physical exposure, Stewart 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 federal record bears this out: Stewart County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 12 for severe storm events and 3 for tornado events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 95 Tennessee counties, Stewart County ranks #73 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Low | 0.01 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 56.58 / yr | $541K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.09 / yr | $150K |
| Landslide | Low | 1.83 / yr | $3K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.42 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 6.21 / yr | $46K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.32 / yr | $562K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.31 / yr | $320K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.63 / yr | $158K |
| Drought | Low | 7.02 / yr | $28K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.21 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $4K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.91 / yr | $46K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| 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
Stewart County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (12), Tornado (3), Winter Storm (2).
| 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 |
| December 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| May 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| January 2022 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| December 2021 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Stewart County?
Stewart County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 29.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 29th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Stewart County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $541K EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $150K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Stewart County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Stewart County ranks #73 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Stewart County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Stewart County since 1975, most often 12 for severe storm events and 3 for tornado 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. Stewart County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.