Photo: GatewayPolitics · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Clarksville than in 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clarksville gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #114 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then earthquakes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 188 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 stands out about Clarksville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Clarksville 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 Clarksville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clarksville, and Clarksville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 3%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #114 of 177 in Tennessee; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Clarksville’s residents live in 39 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, Clarksville has more expected damage per building than 64% of Tennessee towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Clarksville has higher expected damage per building than 56% (#225 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $58.8M, is the 211th largest of those 400.
Does Clarksville flood? Yes: 188 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clarksville, from FEMA’s records: 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late spring storms77 claims · $5.4M
- The Mid-spring storms7 claims · $58K
- The Central U.S. April Flooding4 claims · $101K
Clarksville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montgomery County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Clarksville
Disasters that paid out in Clarksville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Clarksville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm488 households applied for aid$526K aid approved$33K to the City of Clarksville for repairs
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding236 households applied for aid$1.9M aid approved$39K to the City of Clarksville for repairs35 flood claims paid that year
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$1.0M to the City of Clarksville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms and Tornadoes2,667 households applied for aid$3.0M aid approved$1.2M to the City of Clarksville for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornado$457K to the City of Clarksville for repairs
- 2019Severe Storm and Straight-line Winds$1.2M to the City of Clarksville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 14
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Associated Flooding42 households applied for aid$56K aid approved$617K to the City of Clarksville for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$529K to the City of Clarksville for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes1,223 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$989K to the City of Clarksville for repairs77 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$185K to the City of Clarksville for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding37 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding83 households applied for aid$79K aid approved$260K to the City of Clarksville for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms and Tornados20 households applied for aid$3K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Severe Storms, Tornadoes and High Winds$1.6M to the City of Clarksville for repairs
Montgomery County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Clarksville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Clarksville archive →Get ready for what Clarksville 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 Clarksville
Is Clarksville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clarksville has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #114 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and earthquakes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Clarksville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 188 claims in Clarksville since 1978, $9.4M in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 30 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late spring storms (77).
Is Clarksville 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 Montgomery County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Clarksville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clarksville’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 Clarksville?
By FEMA money that reached Clarksville, Severe Storms and Tornadoes (2023): 2,667 households applied for aid, $3.0M approved, and $1.2M to the City of Clarksville for repairs. By flood claims, Late spring storms: 77 paid, $5.4M.
Is Clarksville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Clarksville’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clarksville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clarksville’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.