Photo: Quentin Melson · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Nashville than in 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nashville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then tornadoes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 24 claims here since 1989.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Nashville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Nashville faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Nashville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Nashville, and Nashville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 13%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Nashville’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $640K a year in losses across Nashville: $509K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Nashville flood? Sometimes: 24 flood claims since 1989
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Nashville, from FEMA’s records: 30.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Storm3 claims · $204K
Nashville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Brown County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Nashville
Disasters that paid out in Nashville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Nashville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$24K to the Town of Nashville for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes183 households applied for aid$947K aid approved$14K to the Town of Nashville for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Snow$2K to the Town of Nashville for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding6 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$5K to the Town of Nashville for repairs
Brown County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Nashville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Nashville archive →Nashville and its neighbors
Nashville is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Township | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 60 |
| Nashville | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Washington Township | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | — |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Nashville faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Nashville
Is Nashville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nashville has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and tornadoes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Nashville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 24 claims in Nashville since 1989, $1.8M in all, or 30.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Storm (3).
Is Nashville in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Brown County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Nashville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Nashville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Nashville?
By FEMA money that reached Nashville, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2008): 183 households applied for aid, $947K approved, and $14K to the Town of Nashville for repairs. By flood claims, Storm: 3 paid, $204K.
Is Nashville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Nashville’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Nashville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Nashville’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.