Photo: GatewayPolitics · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Ashland City as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ashland City gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #105 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%), then earthquakes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 74 claims here since 1978.
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 Ashland City 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
Earthquakes
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 Ashland City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ashland City, and Ashland City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #105 of 177 in Tennessee; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ashland City’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Tennessee town has higher expected damage than 53% of U.S. towns; within the state, Ashland City has more expected damage per building than 59% of Tennessee towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Ashland City: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ashland City flood? Sometimes: 74 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ashland City, from FEMA’s records: 32.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late spring storms27 claims · $6.6M
- The Heavy rains2 claims · $14K
Ashland City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cheatham County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ashland City
Disasters that paid out in Ashland City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Ashland City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm56 households applied for aid$115K aid approved$57K to the Town of Ashland City for repairs
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding8 households applied for aid$56K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Tornadoes25 households applied for aid$65K aid approved
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes34 households applied for aid$28K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes643 households applied for aid$3.8M aid approved27 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Tornadoes18 households applied for aid$46K aid approved
Show all 7
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$1K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
Cheatham County has had 19 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 Ashland City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ashland City archive →Ashland City and its neighbors
Ashland City has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland City | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 74 |
| Nashville | C+more damage than 60% | 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 Ashland City 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Ashland City
Is Ashland City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ashland City has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #105 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and earthquakes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ashland City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 74 claims in Ashland City since 1978, $7.1M in all, or 32.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late spring storms (27).
Is Ashland City 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 Cheatham County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ashland City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ashland City’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 Ashland City?
By FEMA money that reached Ashland City, Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes (2010): 643 households applied for aid, $3.8M approved. By flood claims, Late spring storms: 27 paid, $6.6M.
Is Ashland City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Ashland City’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ashland City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ashland City’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.