Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Maryville than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Maryville gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #36 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%), then earthquakes (35%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1981.
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 Maryville 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 Maryville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Maryville, and Maryville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Lightning adds 2%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #36 of 177 in Tennessee; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Maryville’s residents live in 14 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, Maryville has less expected damage per building than 80% of Tennessee towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.2M a year in losses across Maryville: $5.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Maryville flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Maryville, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Maryville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Blount County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Maryville
Disasters that paid out in Maryville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Maryville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$260K to the City of Maryville for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$243K to the City of Maryville for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Associated Flooding2 households applied for aid$8K to the City of Maryville for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding13 households applied for aid$30K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$23K to the City of Maryville for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Blount County has had 13 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Blount County, 2016–2016.
Old photos of Maryville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Maryville archive →Maryville and its neighbors
Maryville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryville | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Eagleton Village | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Alcoa | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Louisville | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Friendsville | — | 980 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 Maryville 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 Maryville
Is Maryville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Maryville has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #36 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%) and earthquakes (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Maryville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Maryville since 1981, $158K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Maryville 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 Blount County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Maryville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Maryville’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 Maryville?
By FEMA money that reached Maryville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2017): $260K to the City of Maryville for repairs.
Is Maryville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Maryville’s rate for it is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Maryville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Maryville’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.