Tennessee Flood Zones
Tennessee faces riverine flooding from the Tennessee, Cumberland, and Mississippi rivers, as well as flash flooding in urban areas and mountain stream valleys. The May 2010 Nashville flood demonstrated the catastrophic flood potential in the Cumberland River basin.
4 of 95 Tennessee counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. 8 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 20%.
FEMA Region
Region 4
Also covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, +4 more
NFIP Policies
38,000
Tennessee Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 95 Tennessee counties.
Inland Flood Risk
4 of 95 counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
0 of 95 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Tennessee has received 20 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2020s
1
2010s
2
2000s
1
1990s
4
1980s
3
1970s
7
1960s
2
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 20 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Tennessee properties have filed 17,640 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $476.1M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $27K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
2,378
2010s
7,836
2000s
2,588
1990s
2,445
1980s
1,648
1970s
745
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone AE
7,078
Zone X
5,278
Zone A
4,075
Zone AO
15
Zone V
13
Zone AH
9
Zone D
1
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Tennessee
8 Tennessee communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Tennessee range from 6 to 9, with discounts from 5% to 20%.
Class 6 - 20% discount
Bristol
Class 8 - 10% discount
Franklin
Class 8 - 10% discount
Athens
Class 8 - 10% discount
Watertown
Class 8 - 10% discount
Elizabethton
Class 8 - 10% discount
Cookeville
Class 9 - 5% discount
Gatlinburg
Class 9 - 5% discount
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Look Up Any Tennessee Address
Enter a TN address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupTennessee Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Tennessee.
Tennessee Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Tennessee property is in a flood zone?
Enter your TN address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.
Do I need flood insurance in Tennessee?
If your Tennessee property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given Tennessee's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Tennessee?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Tennessee are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.
Can I remove my Tennessee property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Tennessee property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. For properties in Tennessee's AE and A zones, the LOMA process is relatively straightforward when the elevation data supports it. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.
Do any Tennessee communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 8 Tennessee communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for exceeding minimum flood mitigation standards. Residents in participating communities can receive NFIP premium discounts of up to 20% in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Properties outside the SFHA also benefit: CRS classes 1 through 6 receive a 10% discount, and classes 7 through 9 receive a 5% discount on NFIP premiums. Check your city's page on FludZone to see if your community participates.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Tennessee.