Sycamore Shoals · Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Elizabethton faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elizabethton gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #79 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 65 claims here since 1984.
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 Elizabethton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Elizabethton 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
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 Elizabethton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elizabethton, and Elizabethton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 5% (higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #79 of 177 in Tennessee; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Elizabethton’s residents live in 11 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, Elizabethton has less expected damage per building than 56% of Tennessee towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Elizabethton: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Elizabethton flood? Sometimes: 65 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elizabethton, from FEMA’s records: 9.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Helene31 claims · $1.8M
Elizabethton is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Carter County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Elizabethton
Disasters that paid out in Elizabethton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Elizabethton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene1,465 households applied for aid$3.4M aid approved$1.7M to the City of Elizabethton for repairs31 flood claims paid for it, $1.8M
- 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$27K to the City of Elizabethton for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Severe Storms and Flooding$4K to the City of Elizabethton for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Carter County has had 13 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 Elizabethton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elizabethton archive →Elizabethton and its neighbors
Elizabethton is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 78 |
| Pine Crest | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Biltmore | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Central | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Elizabethton | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 65 |
| Valley Forge | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hunter | Cmore damage than 74% | 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 Elizabethton 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.
- 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.
- Elizabethton residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Elizabethton
Is Elizabethton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elizabethton has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #79 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Elizabethton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 65 claims in Elizabethton since 1984, $2.0M in all, or 9.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (31).
Is Elizabethton 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 Carter County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Elizabethton?
Elizabethton is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Elizabethton?
By FEMA money that reached Elizabethton, Tropical Storm Helene (2024): 1,465 households applied for aid, $3.4M approved, and $1.7M to the City of Elizabethton for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 31 paid, $1.8M.
Is Elizabethton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Elizabethton’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elizabethton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elizabethton’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.