Flood Help Guide

Tennessee flood insurance and flood history

From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08

17,706NFIP flood claims since 1978
$480.9 millionPaid on those claims
$44,542Average paid claimlast 10 years
0.7%Homes with NFIP flood insurance
31Flood disaster declarationssince 2000

FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 17,706 flood insurance claims in Tennessee since 1978. The NFIP paid $480.9 million on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).

The year with the most claims was 2010, with 4,724, mostly from Late spring storms.

In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 3,768 claims, and the average paid claim was $44,542.

32% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).

About 0.7% of homes in Tennessee had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (18,014 of 2,579,192 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 25% (10,286 of 41,905).

Since 2000, FEMA has made 31 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of Tennessee. The most recent was DR-4878-TN (Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding), declared June 19, 2025.

Flood insurance claims in Tennessee by year

NFIP flood claims per year in Tennessee, 1978 to 202601.2k2.5k3.8k5k1978: 173 claims, $377,499 paid1979: 572 claims, $2.2 million paid1980: 248 claims, $653,876 paid19801981: 85 claims, $228,910 paid1982: 208 claims, $1.3 million paid1983: 164 claims, $458,479 paid1984: 485 claims, $2.7 million paid1985: 32 claims, $87,417 paid1986: 58 claims, $293,129 paid1987: 92 claims, $886,633 paid1988: 47 claims, $99,961 paid1989: 229 claims, $1.0 million paid1990: 331 claims, $3.6 million paid19901991: 136 claims, $699,544 paid1992: 47 claims, $165,478 paid1993: 83 claims, $429,788 paid1994: 564 claims, $4.4 million paid1995: 212 claims, $1.4 million paid1996: 164 claims, $1.5 million paid1997: 276 claims, $2.9 million paid1998: 524 claims, $5.2 million paid1999: 108 claims, $990,200 paid2000: 121 claims, $1.1 million paid20002001: 188 claims, $1.6 million paid2002: 292 claims, $3.5 million paid2003: 961 claims, $17.6 million paid2004: 336 claims, $4.8 million paid2005: 33 claims, $277,473 paid2006: 49 claims, $759,736 paid2007: 17 claims, $85,220 paid2008: 56 claims, $549,219 paid2009: 535 claims, $10.5 million paid2010: 4,724 claims, $233.0 million paid20102011: 570 claims, $11.4 million paid2012: 148 claims, $3.0 million paid2013: 548 claims, $11.7 million paid2014: 198 claims, $5.2 million paid2015: 139 claims, $1.6 million paid2016: 185 claims, $3.4 million paid2017: 414 claims, $9.1 million paid2018: 137 claims, $2.2 million paid2019: 773 claims, $21.0 million paid2020: 383 claims, $9.0 million paid20202021: 1,130 claims, $56.6 million paid2022: 69 claims, $1.1 million paid2023: 81 claims, $3.6 million paid2024: 345 claims, $19.7 million paid2025: 371 claims, $16.0 million paid2026: 65 claims, $926,056 paid
NFIP claims per year by year of loss. Hover or tap a bar for the count and amount paid. 2026 is partial.
Show as a table
YearClaimsPaid
202665$926,056
2025371$16.0 million
2024345$19.7 million
202381$3.6 million
202269$1.1 million
20211,130$56.6 million
2020383$9.0 million
2019773$21.0 million
2018137$2.2 million
2017414$9.1 million
2016185$3.4 million
2015139$1.6 million
2014198$5.2 million
2013548$11.7 million
2012148$3.0 million
2011570$11.4 million
20104,724$233.0 million
2009535$10.5 million
200856$549,219
200717$85,220
200649$759,736
200533$277,473
2004336$4.8 million
2003961$17.6 million
2002292$3.5 million
2001188$1.6 million
2000121$1.1 million
1999108$990,200
1998524$5.2 million
1997276$2.9 million
1996164$1.5 million
1995212$1.4 million
1994564$4.4 million
199383$429,788
199247$165,478
1991136$699,544
1990331$3.6 million
1989229$1.0 million
198847$99,961
198792$886,633
198658$293,129
198532$87,417
1984485$2.7 million
1983164$458,479
1982208$1.3 million
198185$228,910
1980248$653,876
1979572$2.2 million
1978173$377,499

Biggest flood events by NFIP payments

The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for Tennessee, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.

EventYearClaimsPaid
Late spring storms20104,559$230.6 million
Tennessee Flooding2021132$16.4 million
Hurricane Helene2024199$15.4 million
Heavy rains2003654$13.8 million
Central U.S. April Flooding2025198$7.8 million
Mid-spring storms2011310$7.7 million
Flooding1997159$1.5 million
Flooding1990124$1.3 million
Flooding198758$715,074
Early winter storms201552$483,831

Flood history by county

Every Tennessee county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy.

CountyClaimsPaidInsuredFlood declarations
Davidson County4,787$186.4 million1.7%10
Hamilton County1,748$30.3 million1.0%8
Williamson County1,103$31.1 million2.4%5
Shelby County1,019$25.1 million0.7%12
Sumner County706$14.4 million0.9%6
Knox County598$7.9 million0.5%7
Wilson County575$11.2 million1.2%6
Cheatham County513$25.7 million1.5%8
Rutherford County453$7.1 million1.1%4
Sevier County350$4.1 million0.9%6
Lauderdale County323$4.6 million0.7%8
Montgomery County313$11.0 million0.4%9
Dyer County297$7.3 million1.2%9
Carter County288$5.3 million1.4%6
Smith County283$5.5 million1.1%10
Humphreys County235$15.7 million0.9%12
Gibson County224$3.2 million0.5%8
Hardin County209$3.9 million1.0%12
Bradley County203$2.2 million0.6%4
Maury County200$3.3 million0.4%8
Sullivan County197$2.0 million0.4%2
Obion County191$3.9 million0.9%10
Madison County173$3.4 million0.4%10
Washington County152$6.1 million0.4%5
Tipton County145$5.2 million0.6%8
Marion County117$1.2 million0.7%8
Perry County112$2.5 million1.4%10
Decatur County111$1.8 million1.9%12
Haywood County89$1.5 million1.0%8
Cocke County85$5.8 million1.0%10
Rhea County82$1.7 million0.7%8
Dickson County71$4.0 million0.3%9
Robertson County71$2.2 million0.2%4
Wayne County71$1.8 million0.7%12
Houston County64$1.6 million0.5%14
Unicoi County64$1.3 million1.7%6
Blount County60$1.3 million0.5%7
Campbell County60$710,3090.3%10
Anderson County55$262,0290.3%8
Hickman County54$4.6 million0.4%12
Johnson County51$2.2 million1.1%7
Marshall County50$526,6220.7%7
Lincoln County49$658,6760.2%6
Cannon County48$1.4 million0.6%7
Loudon County45$509,5870.3%8
Polk County43$637,5640.6%6
Henry County40$319,0030.6%10
McMinn County40$350,9220.1%5
Roane County40$522,0920.4%9
Greene County37$1.4 million0.2%6
Lawrence County35$715,0810.1%9
Putnam County35$1.2 million0.2%6
Franklin County32$223,2400.3%3
Bedford County30$332,0180.2%5
Claiborne County30$479,7590.1%7
Giles County30$457,2210.7%10
Lake County29$371,0171.1%10
Warren County28$311,2680.2%6
Coffee County26$171,0640.4%4
Fayette County26$830,1310.4%8
Hamblen County26$275,2980.3%4
Trousdale County26$272,6690.3%4
Clay County24$435,6950.3%9
Jefferson County24$268,2400.3%7
Macon County20$221,8480.1%7
Sequatchie County20$133,9660.4%7
Benton County19$510,8250.4%10
Carroll County19$520,8210.1%9
Lewis County19$477,4290.2%11
Henderson County18$550,8150.1%9
Jackson County18$1.2 million0.2%15
DeKalb County17$161,1480.3%6
McNairy County17$815,7740.1%10
Monroe County17$256,7640.2%5
Stewart County17$571,7250.4%9
Weakley County17$73,8700.2%8
Hancock County16$290,9980.4%5
Hawkins County16$108,2380.2%5
Van Buren County14$346,2460.5%5
Overton County11$159,4130.1%7
Crockett County10$446,0530.2%6
Union County10$202,8770.1%5
Morgan County8$57,9540.1%6
White County5$53,3770.1%3
Cumberland County4$7,7800.1%7
Grainger County3$40,7650.1%7
Grundy County3$35,7500.2%5
Hardeman County3$12,3130.0%7
Meigs County3$17,7290.1%6
Chester County2$41,8480.1%6
Pickett County2$104,5150.1%7
Scott County1$00.2%9
Bledsoe County0$00.0%8
Fentress County0$00.0%9
Moore County0$00.1%7

Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in Tennessee

Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.

DeclarationDeclaredEventHelp for individuals
DR-4878-TN Jun 19, 2025 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
EM-3625-TN Apr 2, 2025 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
EM-3620-TN Sep 27, 2024 Tropical Storm Helene No
DR-4792-TN Jun 17, 2024 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-4609-TN Aug 23, 2021 Severe Storm and Flooding Yes
DR-4601-TN May 8, 2021 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-4550-TN Jul 9, 2020 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4541-TN Apr 24, 2020 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding Yes
DR-4476-TN Mar 5, 2020 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding Yes
DR-4427-TN Apr 17, 2019 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4320-TN Jun 23, 2017 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4211-TN Apr 2, 2015 Severe Winter Storm and Flooding No
DR-4189-TN Aug 13, 2014 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-1979-TN May 9, 2011 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-1978-TN May 9, 2011 Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds No
EM-3321-TN May 4, 2011 Flooding No
DR-1974-TN May 1, 2011 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding Yes
DR-1965-TN Mar 31, 2011 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-1937-TN Sep 15, 2010 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1909-TN May 4, 2010 Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes Yes
DR-1856-TN Aug 21, 2009 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1851-TN Jul 13, 2009 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-1839-TN May 15, 2009 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-1821-TN Feb 17, 2009 Severe Winter Storm and Flooding No
DR-1745-TN Feb 7, 2008 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding Yes

Showing the 25 most recent of 31.

What to do with this

A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.

Where these numbers come from

All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:

FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.