riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Jackson County Disaster Risk

Jackson County, Tennessee

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

23th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#80

of 95 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

37th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 37% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 7% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 53% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 47% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 25% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Jackson County

Risk Verdict

Jackson County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 23th 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

Tornado risk is the dominant hazard for Jackson County, scoring in the 53th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 47th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (37th), hurricane (25th), wildfire (7th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Jackson County residents should identify a safe room or interior space on the lowest floor, have a NOAA weather radio, and practice tornado drills with your household. Secondary risks such as earthquake 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

Jackson County is notably safer than the average county in Tennessee. Its composite risk score is 29.9 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

Is your home insured against Jackson County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Jackson County, TN?
Jackson County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 23th 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 Jackson County?
Jackson County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (53th percentile), earthquake (47th percentile), flooding (37th percentile), hurricane (25th percentile), wildfire (7th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 53th 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 Jackson County risk compare to the Tennessee average?
Jackson County's composite risk percentile is 23th, compared to the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Jackson County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Tennessee.
Is Jackson County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Jackson County's tornado risk is at the 53th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Jackson County is at the 37th 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 Jackson County a safe place to live?
Jackson County's composite risk score of 23th 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 tornado at the 53th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Overton County

Tennessee

-0.3

Very Low

22th percentile

Cannon County

Tennessee

+0.4

Very Low

23th percentile

Bledsoe County

Tennessee

+1.6

Very Low

24th 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.

Explore more data for Jackson County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score