riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Cheatham County Disaster Risk

Cheatham County, Tennessee

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

46th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#59

of 95 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

54th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 54% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 15% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 67% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 80% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 18% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Cheatham County

Risk Verdict

Cheatham County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 46th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Cheatham County, scoring in the 80th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 67th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (54th), hurricane (18th), wildfire (15th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Cheatham 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

Cheatham County is notably safer than the average county in Tennessee. Its composite risk score is 6.2 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 Cheatham County, TN?
Cheatham County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 46th 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 Cheatham County?
Cheatham County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (80th percentile), tornado (67th percentile), flooding (54th percentile), hurricane (18th percentile), wildfire (15th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 80th 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 Cheatham County risk compare to the Tennessee average?
Cheatham County's composite risk percentile is 46th, compared to the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Cheatham County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Tennessee.
Is Cheatham County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Cheatham County's earthquake risk is at the 80th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Cheatham County is at the 54th 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 Cheatham County a safe place to live?
Cheatham County's composite risk score of 46th 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 80th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Hamblen County

Tennessee

+0.8

Relatively Low

47th percentile

Marshall County

Tennessee

-0.9

Relatively Low

45th percentile

Hickman County

Tennessee

+0.9

Relatively Low

47th 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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