Gibson County

Tennessee — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Medium

Composite Risk Score

85.9

National percentile: 86th

Gibson County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 85.9, 86th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $49M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $49M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 50K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Earthquake
Medium $27M/yr
Tornado
High $7M/yr
Lightning
High $1M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Earthquake Medium 0.01 / yr $27M
Tornado High 0.46 / yr $7M
Lightning High 57.85 / yr $1M
Cold Wave Medium 2.42 / yr $4M
Ice Storm High 1.13 / yr $487K
Winter Weather Medium 7.05 / yr $207K
Heat Wave Medium 13.79 / yr $1M
Strong Wind Medium 2.14 / yr $1M
Drought Medium 7.57 / yr $520K
Landslide Very Low 0.66 / yr $2K
Hurricane Very Low 0.03 / yr $94K
Riverine Flood Low 1.61 / yr $6M
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $6K
Hail Very Low 2.97 / yr $33K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Gibson County?

Gibson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 85.9 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 86th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Gibson County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Medium, $27M EAL), Tornado (High, $7M EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Gibson County compare to other Tennessee counties?

Gibson County ranks #10 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Gibson County's $49M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.