Lewis County

Tennessee — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

13.9

National percentile: 14th

Lewis County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 13.9, 14th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $5M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very Low Capacity to recover
Population 12K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Earthquake
Low $815K/yr
Tornado
Low $2M/yr
Landslide
Very Low $2K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Earthquake Low 0.00 / yr $815K
Tornado Low 0.23 / yr $2M
Landslide Very Low 0.92 / yr $2K
Cold Wave Low 1.21 / yr $796K
Hurricane Very Low 0.03 / yr $23K
Strong Wind Low 5.30 / yr $337K
Ice Storm Low 0.73 / yr $35K
Lightning Low 60.42 / yr $96K
Heat Wave Very Low 5.63 / yr $107K
Winter Weather Low 4.74 / yr $22K
Drought Very Low 13.82 / yr $5K
Riverine Flood Very Low 0.75 / yr $2M
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $3K
Hail Very Low 3.65 / yr $23K
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 Lewis County?

Lewis County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 13.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 14th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Lewis County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Low, $815K EAL), Tornado (Low, $2M EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $2K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Lewis County compare to other Tennessee counties?

Lewis County ranks #85 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very 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. Lewis County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.