riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Scott County Disaster Risk

Scott County, Tennessee

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

26th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#76

of 95 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

29th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 29% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 69% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 47% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 57% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 44% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Scott County

Risk Verdict

Scott County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 26th 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 Scott County, scoring in the 69th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 57th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (47th), hurricane (44th), flood (29th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Scott 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

Scott County is notably safer than the average county in Tennessee. Its composite risk score is 26.3 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 Scott County, TN?
Scott County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 26th 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 Scott County?
Scott County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (69th percentile), earthquake (57th percentile), tornado (47th percentile), hurricane (44th percentile), flooding (29th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 69th 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 Scott County risk compare to the Tennessee average?
Scott County's composite risk percentile is 26th, compared to the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Scott County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Tennessee.
Is Scott County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Scott County's wildfire risk is at the 69th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Scott County is at the 29th 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 Scott County a safe place to live?
Scott County's composite risk score of 26th 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 69th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

DeKalb County

Tennessee

-0.6

Very Low

25th percentile

Bledsoe County

Tennessee

-2.0

Very Low

24th percentile

Johnson County

Tennessee

+2.1

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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