Photo: GatewayPolitics · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Kingston Springs than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kingston Springs gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #166 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 2010.
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 Kingston Springs 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
Tornadoes
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 Kingston Springs’ grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kingston Springs, and Kingston Springs’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #166 of 177 in Tennessee; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Kingston Springs’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Tennessee town has higher expected damage than 53% of U.S. towns; within the state, Kingston Springs has more expected damage per building than 94% of Tennessee towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Kingston Springs: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kingston Springs flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 2010
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kingston Springs, from FEMA’s records: 6.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late spring storms6 claims · $627K
Kingston Springs isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cheatham County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Kingston Springs
Disasters that paid out in Kingston Springs itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Kingston Springs), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm29 households applied for aid$41K aid approved$28K to the Town of Kingston Springs for repairs
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding10 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Tornadoes3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes106 households applied for aid$108K aid approved
- 2021Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$79K to the Town of Kingston Springs for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes242 households applied for aid$1.9M aid approved$269K to the Town of Kingston Springs for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 1999Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$15K to the Town of Kingston Springs for repairs
Cheatham County has had 19 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 Kingston Springs after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kingston Springs archive →Kingston Springs and its neighbors
Kingston Springs has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston Springs | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Pegram | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
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 Kingston Springs 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Kingston Springs
Is Kingston Springs at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kingston Springs has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #166 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and tornadoes (7%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Kingston Springs flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Kingston Springs since 2010, $806K in all, or 6.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Late spring storms (6).
Is Kingston Springs 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 Cheatham County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Kingston Springs?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kingston Springs’ 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 Kingston Springs?
By FEMA money that reached Kingston Springs, Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes (2010): 242 households applied for aid, $1.9M approved, and $269K to the Town of Kingston Springs for repairs. By flood claims, Late spring storms: 6 paid, $627K.
Is Kingston Springs at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Kingston Springs’ rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kingston Springs.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kingston Springs’ 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.