riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Benton County Disaster Risk

Benton County, Tennessee

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

39th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#66

of 95 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

20th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 20% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 16% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 56% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 88% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 40% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Benton County

Risk Verdict

Benton County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 39th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Benton County, scoring in the 88th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 56th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (40th), flood (20th), wildfire (16th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Benton County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as tornado also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Benton County is notably safer than the average county in Tennessee. Its composite risk score is 13.4 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Benton County, TN?
Benton County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 39th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Benton County?
Benton County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (88th percentile), tornado (56th percentile), hurricane (40th percentile), flooding (20th percentile), wildfire (16th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 88th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Benton County risk compare to the Tennessee average?
Benton County's composite risk percentile is 39th, compared to the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Benton County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Tennessee.
Is Benton County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Benton County's earthquake risk is at the 88th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Benton County is at the 20th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Benton County a safe place to live?
Benton County's composite risk score of 39th percentile is below the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is earthquake at the 88th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

White County

Tennessee

-0.5

Very Low

39th percentile

Decatur County

Tennessee

-0.6

Very Low

38th percentile

Sequatchie County

Tennessee

+1.1

Very Low

40th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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