Natural Disaster Risk in Smith County
Tennessee
Risk Summary for Smith County
Smith County scores 4.6/10 (Moderate risk), near the U.S. average of 4.5. The leading hazard is Landslide.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Scores
How it compares
Live Conditions
🏠 What this means for insurance
Average risk — standard coverage usually sufficient
This area carries average natural disaster risk. A standard homeowners or renters policy should cover common events, but review the exclusions for floods and earthquakes, which are almost never included by default.
This is general information only. Consult a licensed insurance professional for advice specific to your property.
Natural Hazard Profile: Smith County, Tennessee
Smith County, in the United States in Tennessee, is characterized by its humid subtropical climate — hot summers, mild winters, and transitional weather patterns. The county faces tornado risk in both spring and fall, and its FEMA risk assessment establishes the hazard baseline shared by all the towns and cities it contains.
Smith County's overall natural disaster risk is rated 4.6/10 (Moderate) by FEMA's National Risk Index. The area faces significant landslide risk, where mountainous topography and saturated soils during wet periods combine to create hazardous mass movement conditions. Secondary hazards include earthquake and tornado.
Within Tennessee, Smith County's risk is, slightly below the 5.8/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Smith County identifies landslide as the foremost hazard, followed by earthquake and tornado. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.
With a moderate risk rating, Smith County residents are well-served by maintaining standard preparedness practices — an emergency supply kit, awareness of local hazard seasonality, and insurance that covers the top local risks. Periodic review of coverage for landslide is recommended.
What this means for Smith County: Landslide preparedness
- Have an evacuation plan ready during periods of intense or prolonged rainfall.
- Watch for warning signs such as new cracks, tilting trees, or changes in water drainage on slopes.
- Standard insurance generally excludes landslide and earth-movement damage — ask about specialized coverage.
Cities in Smith County
ZIP codes in Smith County
Data source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Scores normalized to 1–10 across all US counties. For informational purposes only.