Weakley County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 74th
Weakley County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 74.0, 74th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $35M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Weakley County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 74.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 74th 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.
Most of Weakley County's expected losses come from earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Medium risk — $18M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 57.27 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 2.42 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $35M in expected annual loss for a population of 33K.
Beyond physical exposure, Weakley County has a low 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Weakley County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1975, including 11 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, Weakley County ranks #20 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $18M |
| Lightning | High | 57.27 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 2.42 / yr | $5M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.40 / yr | $483K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.48 / yr | $4M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 7.16 / yr | $146K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.03 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 12.16 / yr | $911K |
| Drought | Medium | 9.17 / yr | $437K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.89 / yr | $3K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $63K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.96 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.79 / yr | $36K |
| 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
Weakley County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1975, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Tornado (3), 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 |
| December 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| March 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2022 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| December 2021 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| July 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Weakley County?
Weakley County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 74.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 74th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Weakley County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Medium, $18M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $5M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Weakley County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Weakley County ranks #20 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Weakley County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Weakley County since 1975, most often 11 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. Weakley County's $35M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.