riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Houston County Disaster Risk

Houston County, Tennessee

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

13th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#87

of 95 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

14th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 14% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 3% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 72% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 25% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Houston County

Risk Verdict

Houston County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 13th 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 Houston County, scoring in the 72th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 46th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (25th), flood (14th), wildfire (3th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Houston 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

Houston County is notably safer than the average county in Tennessee. Its composite risk score is 39.3 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 Houston County, TN?
Houston County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 13th 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 Houston County?
Houston County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (72th percentile), tornado (46th percentile), hurricane (25th percentile), flooding (14th percentile), wildfire (3th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 72th 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 Houston County risk compare to the Tennessee average?
Houston County's composite risk percentile is 13th, compared to the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Houston County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Tennessee.
Is Houston County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Houston County's earthquake risk is at the 72th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Houston County is at the 14th 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 Houston County a safe place to live?
Houston County's composite risk score of 13th 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 72th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Clay County

Tennessee

+0.2

Very Low

13th percentile

Union County

Tennessee

-0.2

Very Low

13th percentile

Meigs County

Tennessee

-0.4

Very Low

13th 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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