Unicoi County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 11th
Unicoi County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 10.6, 11th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Unicoi County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 10.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 11th 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 landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $21K in expected annual loss and about 0.58 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Low risk — $183K in expected annual loss and about 51.47 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Low risk — $666K in expected annual loss and about 3.26 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 18K.
Beyond physical exposure, Unicoi County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low 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: Unicoi County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 5 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, Unicoi County ranks #91 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 0.58 / yr | $21K |
| Lightning | Low | 51.47 / yr | $183K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 3.26 / yr | $666K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $169K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $17K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $15K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.15 / yr | $268K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.21 / yr | $26K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $3M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 17.22 / yr | $14K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $165K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.26 / yr | $19K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 23.30 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Unicoi County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (5), 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 |
| October 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 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 |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Unicoi County?
Unicoi County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 10.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 11th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Unicoi County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $21K EAL), Lightning (Low, $183K EAL), Cold Wave (Low, $666K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Unicoi County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Unicoi County ranks #91 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Unicoi County had?
FEMA records 18 federal disaster declarations for Unicoi County since 1973, most often 5 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. Unicoi County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.