FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in South Cleveland than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Cleveland gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #44 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then earthquakes (15%). 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 South Cleveland 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 South Cleveland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in South Cleveland, and South Cleveland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 15% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #44 of 177 in Tennessee; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
South Cleveland’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, South Cleveland has less expected damage per building than 76% of Tennessee towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across South Cleveland: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does South Cleveland flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in South Cleveland. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
South Cleveland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bradley County.The storms South Cleveland remembers
None of the 14 disasters declared for Bradley County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching South Cleveland itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Bradley County has had 14 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.
South Cleveland and its neighbors
South Cleveland has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Cleveland | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Cleveland | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 136 |
| Wildwood Lake | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | — |
| McDonald | — | 712 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 South Cleveland 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 South Cleveland
Is South Cleveland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Cleveland has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #44 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and earthquakes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is South Cleveland 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 Bradley County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in South Cleveland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for South Cleveland’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is South Cleveland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and South Cleveland’s rate for it is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in South Cleveland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where South Cleveland’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.