riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Rhea County Disaster Risk

Rhea County, Tennessee

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

49th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#54

of 95 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

63th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 63% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 48% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 56% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 76% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 47% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Rhea County

Risk Verdict

Rhea County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 49th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Rhea County, scoring in the 76th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 63th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (56th), wildfire (48th), hurricane (47th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Rhea County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as flood 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

Rhea County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Tennessee. Its composite risk score is within 3.3 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Tennessee as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Rhea County, TN?
Rhea County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 49th 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 Rhea County?
Rhea County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (76th percentile), flooding (63th percentile), tornado (56th percentile), wildfire (48th percentile), hurricane (47th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake 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 Rhea County risk compare to the Tennessee average?
Rhea County's composite risk percentile is 49th, compared to the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Rhea County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Tennessee.
Is Rhea County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Rhea County's earthquake risk is at the 76th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Rhea County is at the 63th 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 Rhea County a safe place to live?
Rhea County's composite risk score of 49th 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 76th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Humphreys County

Tennessee

-0.9

Relatively Low

48th percentile

Lake County

Tennessee

-1.3

Relatively Low

48th percentile

McNairy County

Tennessee

+1.4

Relatively Low

51th 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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