Haywood County
Tennessee — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 65th
Haywood County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 64.7, 65th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $16M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $9M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.89 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 15.79 / yr | $587K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.38 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Medium | 8.52 / yr | $268K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.77 / yr | $108K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $94K |
| Lightning | Low | 58.11 / yr | $175K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 5.84 / yr | $32K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.37 / yr | $396 |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.46 / yr | $196K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.00 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.17 / yr | $41K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| 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 Haywood County?
Haywood County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 64.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 65th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Haywood County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Medium, $9M EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $2M EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $587K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Haywood County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Haywood County ranks #33 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low 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. Haywood County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.