Photo: Mrgriffter · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Johnson City’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Johnson City gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #6 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then earthquakes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 78 claims here since 1979.
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 Johnson City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Johnson 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 Johnson City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Johnson City, and Johnson City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 14% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
A #6 of 177 in Tennessee; lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Johnson City’s residents live in 31 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, Johnson City has less expected damage per building than 97% of Tennessee towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.7M a year in losses across Johnson City: $8.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Johnson City flood? Sometimes: 78 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Johnson City, from FEMA’s records: 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Johnson 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: Washington County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Johnson City
Disasters that paid out in Johnson City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Johnson City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Helene988 households applied for aid$580K aid approved$224K to the City of Johnson City for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storm$40K to the City of Johnson City for repairs
- 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$102K to the City of Johnson City for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Associated Flooding19 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$360K to the City of Johnson City for repairs
- 2001Severe Storms and Flooding$8K to the City of Johnson City for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Its 2 counties have had 16 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 Johnson City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Johnson City archive →Johnson City and its neighbors
Johnson City has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. 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 | — |
| Gray | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Oak Grove | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Spurgeon | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Central | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Elizabethton | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 65 |
| Watauga | — | 644 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Johnson 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 Johnson City
Is Johnson City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Johnson City has lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #6 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and earthquakes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Johnson City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 78 claims in Johnson City since 1979, $3.6M in all, or 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 13 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Johnson 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 Washington County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Johnson City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Johnson 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 Johnson City?
By FEMA money that reached Johnson City, Tropical Storm Helene (2024): 988 households applied for aid, $580K approved, and $224K to the City of Johnson City for repairs.
Is Johnson City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Johnson City’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Johnson City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Johnson 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.