Tennessee natural disasters & FEMA declarations
TN · 16th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Tennessee has had 97 federally declared disasters since 1963, the 16th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (45 declarations, about 46% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), on Feb 6, 2026.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Tennessee, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm | 45 | 46% |
| Flood | 19 | 20% |
| Fire | 11 | 11% |
| Tornado | 8 | 8% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 4 | 4% |
| Winter Storm | 3 | 3% |
| Tropical Storm | 2 | 2% |
| Biological | 2 | 2% |
| Other | 1 | 1% |
| Hurricane | 1 | 1% |
| Snowstorm | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 78 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 10 |
| Emergency (EM) | 9 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Tennessee's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 2 |
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 16 |
| 2000s | 20 |
| 2010s | 19 |
| 2020s | 27 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | DR-4898-TN |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | EM-3635-TN |
| Jun 19, 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4878-TN |
| Apr 2, 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | EM-3625-TN |
| Oct 2, 2024 | Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | DR-4832-TN |
| Sep 27, 2024 | Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | EM-3620-TN |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Tennessee
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Tennessee in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Tennessee had?
Tennessee has had 97 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1963, the 16th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Tennessee?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Tennessee is "Severe Storm", with 45 declarations — about 46% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Tennessee?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Tennessee in this snapshot was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), declared Feb 6, 2026.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18