Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Union City than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union City gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #174 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (67%), then river and rain flooding (18%). Flood insurance has paid 50 claims here since 1984.
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 Union City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Union City 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 Union City’s grade
Earthquakes are 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Union City, and Union City’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 8%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #174 of 177 in Tennessee; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Union City’s residents live in 4 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, Union City has more expected damage per building than 98% of Tennessee towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.9M a year in losses across Union City: $6.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Union City flood? Sometimes: 50 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Union City, from FEMA’s records: 10.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Union City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Obion County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Union City
Disasters that paid out in Union City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Union City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding311 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$163K to the City of Union City for repairs
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes23 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2020Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$66K to the City of Union City for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$4K to the City of Union City for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding14 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$155K to the City of Union City for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 8
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding27 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$18K to the City of Union City for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$217K to the City of Union City for repairs
Obion County has had 16 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 Union City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Union City archive →Get ready for what Union City 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 Union City
Is Union City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union City has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #174 of 177 in Tennessee. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (67%) and river and rain flooding (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Union City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 50 claims in Union City since 1984, $2.0M in all, or 10.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Union City 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 Obion County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Union City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Union City’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 Union City?
By FEMA money that reached Union City, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2025): 311 households applied for aid, $1.1M approved, and $163K to the City of Union City for repairs.
Is Union City at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Union City’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Union City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Union City’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.