riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Montgomery County Disaster Risk

Montgomery County, Tennessee

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

87th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#8

of 95 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

84th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 84% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 28% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively High

Higher than 95% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Montgomery County

Risk Verdict

Montgomery County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 87th percentile nationally. While not in the highest tier, this county faces meaningful hazard exposure. Residents are encouraged to understand their specific risks and maintain emergency supplies.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Montgomery County, scoring in the 95th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 92th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (84th), hurricane (41th), wildfire (28th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Montgomery 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

Montgomery County is significantly riskier than the average county in Tennessee. Its composite risk score is 34.9 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Montgomery County, TN?
Montgomery County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 87th 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 Montgomery County?
Montgomery County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (95th percentile), tornado (92th percentile), flooding (84th percentile), hurricane (41th percentile), wildfire (28th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 95th 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 Montgomery County risk compare to the Tennessee average?
Montgomery County's composite risk percentile is 87th, compared to the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Montgomery County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Tennessee.
Is Montgomery County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Montgomery County's earthquake risk is at the 95th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Montgomery County is at the 84th 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.
Why is Montgomery County higher risk than average?
Montgomery County's composite risk score of 87th percentile is above the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (95th percentile), along with tornado and flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Sumner County

Tennessee

+0.3

Relatively Moderate

88th percentile

Dyer County

Tennessee

-0.8

Relatively Moderate

87th percentile

Gibson County

Tennessee

-1.4

Relatively Moderate

86th 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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