riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Polk County Disaster Risk

Polk County, Tennessee

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

31th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#72

of 95 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

43th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 43% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 76% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 51% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 71% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Polk County

Risk Verdict

Polk County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 31th 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

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Polk County, scoring in the 76th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 71th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (51th), hurricane (46th), flood (43th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Polk County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. 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

Polk County is notably safer than the average county in Tennessee. Its composite risk score is 21.3 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 Polk County, TN?
Polk County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 31th 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 Polk County?
Polk County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (76th percentile), earthquake (71th percentile), tornado (51th percentile), hurricane (46th percentile), flooding (43th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 76th 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 Polk County risk compare to the Tennessee average?
Polk County's composite risk percentile is 31th, compared to the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Polk County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Tennessee.
Is Polk County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Polk County's wildfire risk is at the 76th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Polk County is at the 43th 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 Polk County a safe place to live?
Polk County's composite risk score of 31th 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 wildfire at the 76th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Stewart County

Tennessee

-1.8

Very Low

29th percentile

Perry County

Tennessee

+2.2

Very Low

33th percentile

Fentress County

Tennessee

-2.7

Very Low

28th 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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