Photo: Pkeets · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, New Tazewell faces less hazard damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Tazewell gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #46 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then earthquakes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1995.
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 New Tazewell’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What New Tazewell 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
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 New Tazewell’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Tazewell, and New Tazewell’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 10% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #46 of 177 in Tennessee; lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Tazewell’s residents live in 3 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, New Tazewell has less expected damage per building than 74% of Tennessee towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $860K a year in losses across New Tazewell: $554K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Tazewell flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Tazewell, from FEMA’s records: 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
New Tazewell isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Claiborne County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to New Tazewell
Disasters that paid out in New Tazewell itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of New Tazewell), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and$47K to the Town of New Tazewell for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Claiborne County has had 17 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 New Tazewell after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Tazewell archive →New Tazewell and its neighbors
New Tazewell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Tazewell | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Tazewell | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 New Tazewell 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.
- 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 New Tazewell
Is New Tazewell at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Tazewell has lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #46 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and earthquakes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Tazewell flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in New Tazewell since 1995, $38K in all, or 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is New Tazewell 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 Claiborne County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in New Tazewell?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Tazewell’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 New Tazewell?
By FEMA money that reached New Tazewell, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and (2011): $47K to the Town of New Tazewell for repairs.
Is New Tazewell at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and New Tazewell’s rate for it is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Tazewell.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Tazewell’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.