Henderson County

Tennessee — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

63.1

National percentile: 63th

Henderson County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 63.1, 63th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $19M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $19M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 28K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Earthquake
Medium $7M/yr
Cold Wave
Medium $4M/yr
Tornado
Medium $3M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Earthquake Medium 0.01 / yr $7M
Cold Wave Medium 1.68 / yr $4M
Tornado Medium 0.36 / yr $3M
Landslide Low 1.37 / yr $12K
Strong Wind Medium 2.56 / yr $1M
Heat Wave Low 12.32 / yr $766K
Lightning Medium 58.83 / yr $279K
Hurricane Very Low 0.03 / yr $85K
Drought Low 7.73 / yr $58K
Ice Storm Low 0.67 / yr $41K
Riverine Flood Very Low 1.00 / yr $3M
Winter Weather Very Low 6.00 / yr $16K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $6K
Hail Very Low 2.93 / yr $16K
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 Henderson County?

Henderson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 63.1 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 63th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Henderson County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Medium, $7M EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $4M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Henderson County compare to other Tennessee counties?

Henderson County ranks #37 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. Henderson County's $19M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.