riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Overton County Disaster Risk

Overton County, Tennessee

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

22th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#81

of 95 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

27th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 27% 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

Relatively Low

Higher than 45% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 54% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 40% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Overton County, Tennessee

Overton County's risk remains very low

Overton County's composite risk score of 22.23 places it well below national averages, reflecting a very low disaster exposure profile. The county benefits from a relatively protected geographic position across multiple hazard types.

Among Tennessee's lowest-risk counties

Overton County scores 22.23 on the composite risk scale, well below Tennessee's state average of 52.45. This places the county among the safest communities in Tennessee for natural disaster exposure.

Comparable to nearby safer counties

Overton County (22.23) maintains similar low-risk status to Morgan County (19.05) and significantly outperforms Perry County (33.40) and Polk County (31.17). The county represents one of the region's most disaster-resistant communities.

Tornado and earthquake are moderate concerns

Tornado risk (45.23) and earthquake risk (53.75) represent Overton County's highest hazards, though both remain below state averages. Flood risk (27.35) poses minimal concern compared to neighboring counties.

Standard insurance covers most exposure

Overton County residents should maintain standard homeowners insurance with attention to tornado and wind coverage. While earthquake risk is moderate (53.75), separate earthquake insurance may be considered as a prudent long-term investment.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Overton County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    EarthquakePrepare
    54th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    45th percentile
  3. #3
    HurricanePrepare
    40th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Risk Advisory: Overton County

Risk Verdict

At the 22th percentile nationally, Overton County experiences relatively limited natural hazard pressure compared to most of the country. Even at the 22th percentile, Overton County's composite score reflects real hazard exposure categories — knowing which ones apply locally enables targeted, efficient household preparedness.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is Overton County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 54th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 45th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include hurricane (40th percentile), wildfire (28th percentile), flood (27th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Overton County ranks at the 54th percentile nationally for earthquake risk. Unlike most natural hazards, earthquakes provide no advance warning; preparedness here means structural adjustments and a practiced response, not alert monitoring. Alongside earthquake exposure, Overton County's tornado risk at the 45th percentile nationally reinforces the value of maintaining a household emergency supply cache usable for multiple hazard scenarios. For earthquake preparedness, Overton County's county emergency management office often maintains a list of community water supply points, Red Cross shelter locations, and post-quake assistance programs — useful resources to identify before an event occurs.

Regional Context

A composite score 30.2 points below the Tennessee state average puts Overton County in a better-than-typical position relative to neighboring counties.

Is your household prepared for Overton County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Overton County, TN?
Overton County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 22th 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 Overton County?
Overton County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (54th percentile), tornado (45th percentile), hurricane (40th percentile), wildfire (28th percentile), flooding (27th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 54th 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 Overton County risk compare to the Tennessee average?
Overton County's composite risk percentile is 22th, compared to the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Overton County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Tennessee.
Is Overton County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Overton County's earthquake risk is at the 54th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Overton County is at the 27th 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 Overton County a safe place to live?
Overton County's composite risk score of 22th 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 54th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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.