Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Rocky Top than in 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rocky Top gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1997.
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 Rocky Top 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 Rocky Top’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rocky Top, and Rocky Top’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
C higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rocky Top’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $555K a year in losses across Rocky Top: $366K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rocky Top flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rocky Top, from FEMA’s records: 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Rocky Top isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Anderson County.The storms Rocky Top remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Anderson County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Rocky Top itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19982 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storm, declared for Anderson County
- 19971 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Anderson 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Anderson County, 2000–2000.
Old photos of Rocky Top after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rocky Top archive →Get ready for what Rocky Top 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 Rocky Top
Is Rocky Top at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rocky Top has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rocky Top flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Rocky Top since 1997, $57K in all, or 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Rocky Top 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 Anderson County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rocky Top?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rocky Top’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Rocky Top at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Rocky Top’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rocky Top.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rocky Top’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.