riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Sequatchie County Disaster Risk

Sequatchie County, Tennessee

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

40th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#65

of 95 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

35th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 35% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 51% 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 52% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 24% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Sequatchie County

Risk Verdict

Sequatchie County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 40th 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

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Sequatchie County, scoring in the 52th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 51th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (47th), flood (35th), hurricane (24th).

Preparedness Context

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

Sequatchie County is notably safer than the average county in Tennessee. Its composite risk score is 12.3 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 Sequatchie County, TN?
Sequatchie County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 40th 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 Sequatchie County?
Sequatchie County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (52th percentile), wildfire (51th percentile), tornado (47th percentile), flooding (35th percentile), hurricane (24th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 52th 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 Sequatchie County risk compare to the Tennessee average?
Sequatchie County's composite risk percentile is 40th, compared to the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Sequatchie County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Tennessee.
Is Sequatchie County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Sequatchie County's earthquake risk is at the 52th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Sequatchie County is at the 35th 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 Sequatchie County a safe place to live?
Sequatchie County's composite risk score of 40th 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 52th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Benton County

Tennessee

-1.1

Very Low

39th percentile

White County

Tennessee

-1.6

Very Low

39th percentile

Decatur County

Tennessee

-1.7

Very Low

38th 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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