Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Memphis faces more hazard damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, led by earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Memphis gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #139 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (45%), then river and rain flooding (43%). Flood insurance has paid 345 claims here since 1978.
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 Memphis’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Memphis faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
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 Memphis’ grade
Earthquakes are 45% of the building damage FEMA expects in Memphis, and Memphis’ rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 12%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C #139 of 177 in Tennessee; higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Memphis’ residents live in 198 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, Memphis has more expected damage per building than 78% of Tennessee towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Memphis has higher expected damage per building than 67% (#268 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $393M, is the 15th largest of those 400.
Does Memphis flood? Yes: 345 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Memphis, from FEMA’s records: 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms31 claims · $1.5M
- The Late spring storms30 claims · $1.7M
- The Central U.S. April Flooding12 claims · $138K
Memphis isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Shelby County.19 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Memphis
Disasters that paid out in Memphis itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Memphis), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm46,248 households applied for aid$82.5M aid approved$92K to the City of Memphis for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$99K to the City of Memphis for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$1.4M to the City of Memphis for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$536K to the City of Memphis for repairs
- 2022Severe Winter Storm$19K to the City of Memphis for repairs
- 2022Severe Winter Storm$17.3M to the City of Memphis for repairs
Show all 19
- 2021Severe Winter Storms$205K to the City of Memphis for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$9.7M to the City of Memphis for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2014Severe Winter Storm$1.6M to the City of Memphis for repairs66 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Associated Flooding$1.2M to the City of Memphis for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding3,292 households applied for aid$7.7M aid approved$4.0M to the City of Memphis for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$967K to the City of Memphis for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes17,054 households applied for aid$12.2M aid approved$1.1M to the City of Memphis for repairs32 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$1.7M to the City of Memphis for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding1,688 households applied for aid$422K aid approved$407K to the City of Memphis for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Katrina1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$164K to the City of Memphis for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, High Winds, and Heavy Rain38,322 households applied for aid$20.1M aid approved$9.6M to the City of Memphis for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding226 households applied for aid$153K aid approved
Shelby County has had 21 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 Memphis after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Memphis archive →Memphis and its neighbors
Memphis is 6th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Bartlett | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Southaven | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Olive Branch | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Germantown | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Memphis | Cmore damage than 75% | earthquakes | 345 |
| West Memphis | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 652 |
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 Memphis faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 Memphis
Is Memphis at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Memphis has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #139 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (45%) and river and rain flooding (43%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Memphis flood?
Flood insurance has paid 345 claims in Memphis since 1978, $10.0M in all, or 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 45 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (31).
Is Memphis 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 Shelby County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Memphis?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Memphis’ 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 Memphis?
By FEMA money that reached Memphis, Severe Winter Storm (2026): 46,248 households applied for aid, $82.5M approved, and $92K to the City of Memphis for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 31 paid, $1.5M.
Is Memphis at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (45%), and Memphis’ rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Memphis.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Memphis’ 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.