Tennessee Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
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. 12 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 20%.
Tennessee has recorded 17,697 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $477.2M in payouts. See how Tennessee compares in our nationwide NFIP claims data breakdown.
FEMA Region
Region 4
Also covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, +4 more
NFIP Policies
26,407
Policies effective in the trailing 13 months (July 1, 2025 - August 16, 2026), not a certified point-in-time count
TN Avg. Premium
$1,192/yr
National average: $915/yr
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Tennessee properties have filed 17,697 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $477.2M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout in 2025 was $43,051.
Recent Years
Claims by Decade
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage in Tennessee
Only roughly 1 in 103 households in Tennessee carries NFIP flood insurance (1.0% of estimated households). 88 of 95 counties have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage. With 4,063 recorded flood events and $5.1B in damage, many flood losses in this state are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
1.0%
roughly 1 in 103 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
17,697 claims over 45+ years across 26,407 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$26,967
Per claim, state-wide since 1978
Historically, Tennessee has averaged 1 claim for every active policy (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI.
Repetitive Loss Properties in Tennessee
Tennessee has 1,696 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 221 severe repetitive loss properties. 55 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
1,696
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
221
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
55
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 1,666 of 1,696 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Tennessee
12 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
Class 8 - 10% discount
Class 8 - 10% discount
Class 8 - 10% discount
Class 8 - 10% discount
Class 8 - 10% discount
Knox County
Class 8 - 10% discount
Nashville, City Of & Davidson County
Class 8 - 10% discount
Williamson County
Class 8 - 10% discount
Wilson County
Class 8 - 10% discount
Class 9 - 5% discount
Class 9 - 5% discount
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only. CRS classes and discounts are subject to change.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Tennessee has received 20 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
Declarations by Decade
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 20 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events in Tennessee
NOAA has recorded 4,063 flood events in Tennessee since 1996, causing an estimated $5.1B in property and crop damage and 114 deaths.
Total Events
4,063
Total Damage
$5.1B
Fatalities
114
Events by Decade
Costliest Events
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation in Tennessee
FEMA has funded mitigation for 2,318 properties in Tennessee, investing $158.7M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
Properties by Action
Mitigation by Decade
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Mitigated Properties. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
Levee Protection in Tennessee
The USACE National Levee Database lists 4 levee systems protecting parts of 2 Tennessee cities. A system's FEMA accreditation status determines how its protected area is mapped - accredited levees are typically mapped as Zone X, while non-accredited or provisionally accredited (PAL) systems generally leave their protected area in the SFHA.
By Accreditation Status
Largest Protected Areas
Ensley Levee System
AccreditedProtects: Memphis - Flood source: Mississippi River - 10.63 sq mi
Memphis - Wolf River Backwater Levee System
AccreditedProtects: Memphis - Flood source: Mississippi River - 4.09 sq mi
Hamilton Levee
Provisionally AccreditedProtects: Chattanooga - Flood source: South Chickamauga Creek - 2.09 sq mi
Memphis - Nonconnah Levee System
Non-AccreditedProtects: Memphis - Flood source: Mississippi River - 1.13 sq mi
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
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.
Tennessee 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, 12 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.
How much does flood insurance cost in Tennessee?
The average NFIP flood insurance premium in Tennessee is $1,192 per year across 26,407 active policies. Premiums vary by zone: Zone AE policies average $1,407/yr. Under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, your specific premium depends on property type, elevation relative to the Base Flood Elevation, and distance to water, not just your flood zone designation.
Which Tennessee counties have the highest flood risk?
According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Davidson, Shelby, Hamilton are among Tennessee's highest-risk counties for inland flooding. Overall, 4 of 95 Tennessee counties are rated "High" or "Very High" for inland flood risk. County-level ratings account for historical flood losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
How many NFIP flood insurance claims has Tennessee had?
Tennessee has recorded 17,697 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $477.2M in payouts since 1978. The highest-claim year was 2010, with 4,724 claims and $230.7M in payouts. This history reflects cumulative flood damage to Tennessee properties across decades of storm and rainfall events.
How many Tennessee properties have flooded repeatedly?
Tennessee has 1,696 properties with multiple flood losses. Of these, 221 are classified as Severe Repetitive Loss, meaning they have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000 or more, or two or more claims where the total exceeds the building value. 55 of these properties have been mitigated.
What percentage of Tennessee homes have flood insurance?
Only roughly 1 in 103 households in Tennessee carries NFIP flood insurance (1.0% of estimated households). 88 counties in Tennessee have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage, indicating a significant protection gap.
Are there levees protecting Tennessee cities?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 4 levee systems protecting parts of 2 Tennessee cities. 2 are FEMA-accredited (generally mapped as Zone X), 1 is non-accredited (the protected area stays in the SFHA), and 1 is provisionally accredited (PAL, accreditation in progress). Levee protection is system-specific, not citywide - check a specific city's page or use the address search above for the zone at a specific property.
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Tennessee.
See the Flood Map for Any Tennessee Address
Enter a TN address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.