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

Wilson County Disaster Risk

Wilson County, Tennessee

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

80th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#15

of 95 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

82th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 37% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 86% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 89% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 39% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Wilson County, Tennessee

Wilson County's elevated disaster risk

Wilson County scores 79.99 on the composite risk scale, placing it significantly above Tennessee's state average of 52.45 in the 'Relatively Low' category. The county faces substantial exposure to multiple hazards, particularly floods and tornadoes, making it one of Tennessee's higher-risk communities.

Upper-tier risk among Tennessee counties

Wilson County ranks in the upper quartile of Tennessee's 95 counties by composite risk, with its 79.99 score reflecting hazard exposure well above the state median. Only a handful of Tennessee counties face comparable or greater natural disaster vulnerability.

Wilson's distinctive risk elevation

Wilson County (79.99) faces substantially higher risk than nearby Warren County (63.45) and Washington County (61.16), approaching the exceptional exposure of Williamson County (85.15). The county's proximity to the Nashville metro area contributes to its elevated multi-hazard vulnerability.

Wilson's three major threats

Tornadoes (85.85), earthquakes (88.80), and floods (82.09) represent Wilson County's primary disaster risks, all scoring substantially above state averages. These three hazards collectively pose significant exposure requiring comprehensive preparedness across multiple threat scenarios.

Prioritize flood and earthquake coverage

Wilson County residents should secure flood insurance and earthquake coverage immediately, given the county's 82.09 and 88.80 vulnerability scores for these hazards. Paired with tornado preparedness and maintained homeowners insurance, these protections provide essential safeguards against the county's elevated multi-hazard environment.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Wilson County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    EarthquakePrepare
    89th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    86th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    82th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Wilson County

Risk Verdict

Wilson County ranks at the 80th percentile nationally for natural disaster risk — below the median for U.S. counties. Comprehensive household preparedness — including reviewing insurance, maintaining emergency supplies, and knowing evacuation routes — is strongly recommended.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is Wilson County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 89th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 86th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (82th percentile), hurricane (39th percentile), wildfire (37th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Wilson County ranks at the 89th 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. Tornado at the 86th percentile nationally is a separate hazard dimension for Wilson County that requires different protective strategies from earthquake preparedness. For earthquake preparedness, Wilson 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

Compared to other Tennessee counties, Wilson County runs 27.5 composite risk points higher than the state mean — reflecting above-average hazard concentration in this area.

Is your household prepared for Wilson 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 Wilson County, TN?
Wilson County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 80th 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 Wilson County?
Wilson County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (89th percentile), tornado (86th percentile), flooding (82th percentile), hurricane (39th percentile), wildfire (37th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 89th 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 Wilson County risk compare to the Tennessee average?
Wilson County's composite risk percentile is 80th, compared to the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Wilson County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Tennessee.
Is Wilson County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Wilson County's earthquake risk is at the 89th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Wilson County is at the 82th 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.
Why is Wilson County higher risk than average?
Wilson County's composite risk score of 80th percentile is above the Tennessee state average of 53th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (89th percentile), along with tornado and flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Maury County

Tennessee

-0.7

Relatively Low

79th percentile

Tipton County

Tennessee

+1.0

Relatively Moderate

81th percentile

Obion County

Tennessee

+1.3

Relatively Moderate

81th percentile

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.

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