Photo: GatewayPolitics · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Hendersonville faces more hazard damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hendersonville gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #154 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 213 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 Hendersonville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hendersonville 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 Hendersonville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hendersonville, and Hendersonville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #154 of 177 in Tennessee; higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hendersonville’s residents live in 13 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, Hendersonville has more expected damage per building than 87% of Tennessee towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $31.7M a year in losses across Hendersonville: $21.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hendersonville flood? Yes: 213 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hendersonville, from FEMA’s records: 8.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late spring storms115 claims · $3.0M
- The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $20K
- The Tennessee Flooding1 claim · $554
Hendersonville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sumner County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hendersonville
Disasters that paid out in Hendersonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hendersonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm260 households applied for aid$187K aid approved$2.2M to the City of Hendersonville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$347K to the City of Hendersonville for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms and Tornadoes312 households applied for aid$156K aid approved$516K to the City of Hendersonville for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornado$151K to the City of Hendersonville for repairs
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes68 households applied for aid$20K aid approved$560K to the City of Hendersonville for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$48K to the City of Hendersonville for repairs
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes903 households applied for aid$2.1M aid approved$404K to the City of Hendersonville for repairs129 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Tornadoes88 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$152K to the City of Hendersonville for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding13 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$160K to the City of Hendersonville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$39K to the City of Hendersonville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Sumner County has had 18 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 Hendersonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hendersonville archive →Hendersonville and its neighbors
Hendersonville is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallatin | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 96 |
| Nashville | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Goodlettsville | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| Hendersonville | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 213 |
| Shackle Island | C−more damage than 82% | 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 Hendersonville 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 Hendersonville
Is Hendersonville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hendersonville has higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #154 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hendersonville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 213 claims in Hendersonville since 1978, $4.1M in all, or 8.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 30 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late spring storms (115).
Is Hendersonville 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 Sumner County, 35% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hendersonville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hendersonville’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 Hendersonville?
By FEMA money that reached Hendersonville, Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes (2010): 903 households applied for aid, $2.1M approved, and $404K to the City of Hendersonville for repairs. By flood claims, Late spring storms: 115 paid, $3.0M.
Is Hendersonville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Hendersonville’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hendersonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hendersonville’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.