Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Mascot than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mascot gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #16 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then earthquakes (21%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Mascot’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Mascot 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 Mascot’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mascot, and Mascot’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 21% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #16 of 177 in Tennessee; lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mascot’s residents live in 2 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, Mascot has less expected damage per building than 91% of Tennessee towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $627K a year in losses across Mascot: $438K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mascot flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Mascot. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Mascot isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Knox County.The storms Mascot remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Knox County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Mascot itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Knox County has had 15 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.
Get ready for what Mascot 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 Mascot
Is Mascot at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mascot has lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #16 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and earthquakes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Mascot 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 Knox County, 41% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mascot?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mascot’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Mascot at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Mascot’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mascot.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mascot’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.