HazardFacts

All states › Tennessee › Cocke County

Natural hazard risk in Cocke County, Tennessee

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Low (score 54.5 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$11.8 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1972
22[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$5.8 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
6[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index rates overall natural hazard risk in Cocke County, Tennessee as Relatively Low compared with other US counties[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within this county are landslide, earthquake and lightning[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Cocke County an overall Risk Index score of 54.5 out of 100[5]. FEMA estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 hazards at $11.8 million a year[1]. This is an estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. By FEMA's Expected Annual Loss values, the largest are inland flooding, earthquake and tornado, in that order[8]. FEMA rates social vulnerability in the county Very High[9]. FEMA rates community resilience Very Low[10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
LandslideRelatively Moderate$85,000[11]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$841,000[12]
LightningRelatively Moderate$353,000[13]
Inland FloodingRelatively Low$8.0 million[14]
WildfireVery Low$62,000[15]
HailRelatively Low$247,000[16]
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$428,000[17]
Ice StormRelatively Low$69,000[18]
Cold WaveRelatively Low$685,000[19]
DroughtRelatively Low$108,000[20]
TornadoRelatively Low$818,000[21]
HurricaneVery Low$15,000[22]
Winter WeatherVery Low$14,000[23]
Heat WaveVery Low$34,000[24]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity[25].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityVery High86.0[9]
Community resilienceVery Low8.4[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties, with an Expected Annual Loss of $8.0 million a year[14]. OpenFEMA lists 173 residential flood insurance contracts in force as of 2026-08-03[26]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 19.4% of homes are insured[26]. OpenFEMA's NFIP claims data lists 85 claims for losses in the county, and NFIP paid $5.8 million in total[3]. For the flood zone of a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[14] Relatively Low, $8.0 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 173 of 17,547 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[26] 807, of which 157 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 85 filed, $5.8 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[27]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 22 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Cocke County since 1972[2]. The most recent is DR-4898-TN, a severe winter storm declared 2026-02-06[28]. NOAA's tornado database records 6 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024, and none were rated F3/EF3 or stronger[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Cocke County, since 1972
Incident type Declarations
Severe Storm[2] 8
Flood[2] 6
Winter Storm[2] 3
Tropical Storm[2] 2
Severe Ice Storm[2] 1
Snowstorm[2] 1
Hurricane[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4898-TN[28] Severe Winter Storm 2026-02-06
EM-3635-TN[28] Severe Winter Storm 2026-01-24
EM-3625-TN[28] Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding 2025-04-02
DR-4832-TN[28] Tropical Storm Helene 2024-10-02
EM-3620-TN[28] Tropical Storm Helene 2024-09-27

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Earthquakes

Before

  • Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with your family and coworkers.
  • Sign up for earthquake alerts that can warn you before shaking starts.
  • Make a plan with an out-of-state contact and a place to meet if you get separated.
  • Anchor heavy items such as bookcases, refrigerators and water heaters, and keep heavy things on low shelves.
  • Consider earthquake insurance. Standard homeowners policies do not cover earthquake damage.

During

  • Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops.
  • Indoors, stay where you are and avoid doorways. Outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings and power lines.
  • If you are driving, pull over, stop and set the parking brake.

Source: Ready.gov, earthquakes

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Questions people ask

Is Cocke County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[14]. FEMA's estimate of Expected Annual Loss from inland flooding is $8.0 million a year, the largest of any hazard here[8].
Is Cocke County at risk of tornadoes?
FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[21]. NOAA's tornado database records 6 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4].
Is Cocke County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties, with a score of 76.9 out of 100[12].
How many disasters have been declared in Cocke County?
OpenFEMA lists 22 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Cocke County since 1972[2].
How can I check the flood zone of an address in Cocke County?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[27].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Cocke County is $11.8 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Very Low, score 41.5). Of this, buildings account for $9.0 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $2.4 million and... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 22 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Cocke County since 1972 (17 major disaster, 5 emergency or fire management). By incident type: severe storm 8, flood 6, winter storm 3, tropical storm 2, severe ice storm 1, snowstorm 1, hurricane 1.... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 85 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Cocke County, 71 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $5.8 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid). Years... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 6 recorded tornadoes touched Cocke County. The strongest were rated F2 (most recent of them on 1976-02-18). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2011-04-27. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Cocke County is Relatively Low, with a Risk Index score of 54.5 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Cocke County are landslide (95.0, Relatively Moderate), earthquake (76.9, Relatively Low), lightning (72.4, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Cocke County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($8.0 million a year), earthquake ($841,000 a year), tornado ($818,000 a year), out of $11.8 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Cocke County is Very High (score 86.0). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Cocke County is Very Low (score 8.4). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 95.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $85,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 76.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $841,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0033 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 72.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $353,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 52.95 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 68.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $8.0 million a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.71 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 26 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 61.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $62,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0019 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 59.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $247,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 3.21 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 56.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $428,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 3.81 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 54.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $69,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.28 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 52.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $685,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.67 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 51.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $108,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 21.41 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 50.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $818,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.1 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 36.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $15,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.01 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the Atlantic Basin... FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 24.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $14,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 9.71 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Cocke County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 18.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $34,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.28 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Cocke County: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  26. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 173 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Cocke County, out of 17,547 residential structures, a penetration rate of 1%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 807 residential structures and 157 contracts, a rate of... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  27. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  28. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.