Bradford Rymer Barn (Additional Documentation) · Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Hopewell as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hopewell gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #107 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then earthquakes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2020.
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 Hopewell 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 Hopewell’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hopewell, and Hopewell’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 16% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #107 of 177 in Tennessee; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hopewell’s residents live in 3 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, Hopewell has more expected damage per building than 60% of Tennessee towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $650K a year in losses across Hopewell: $398K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hopewell flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2020
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hopewell, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hopewell isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bradley County.The storms Hopewell remembers
None of the 14 disasters declared for Bradley County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Hopewell itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20201 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding, declared for Bradley County
Bradley County has had 14 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 Hopewell after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hopewell archive →Hopewell and its neighbors
Hopewell is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 136 |
| Hopewell | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Hopewell 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 Hopewell
Is Hopewell at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hopewell has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #107 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and earthquakes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hopewell flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Hopewell since 2020, $10K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hopewell 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 Bradley County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hopewell?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hopewell’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Hopewell at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Hopewell’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hopewell.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hopewell’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.