Enter any address in Anderson County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Anderson County. Recent examples include flash floods on February 16, 2023, and multiple events on July 20-21, 2022, caused by excessive rainfall from convective storms.
Over the past 30 years, Anderson County has experienced 22 flash flood events, 13 flood events, and one tropical storm. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows a mix of claims across different flood zones. Zone A, typically areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding, has the highest number of claims. However, Zone X_SHADED and Zone X_UNSHADED, representing moderate flood risk areas, have shown higher average claim payouts and water depths in some instances.
Residents in all flood zones should be aware of their risk. Those in Zone A, as well as properties in areas designated as Zone X_SHADED or X_UNSHADED, may face significant flood damage. Homeowners should consult flood maps to understand their specific property's flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
4 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Anderson County, Tennessee has recorded 36 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 22 flash floods and 13 river or area floods. The county has received 22 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2025 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 19, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 15, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 5, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And | Severe Storm | Jun 18, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 4, 2003 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Feb 16, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 23, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 21, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 600.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 6, 2019 | 3.00K |
| Flood | Feb 10, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 1, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 1, 2017 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 24, 2011 | 10.00K |
Flash Flood — Feb 16, 2023
Heavy rain was triggered by a cold front slowly displacing a warm sector whose precipitable water anomaly was near the maximum for the day.
Flood — Feb 23, 2022
A moist southwesterly flow aloft ran nearly parallel to a stalled cold front near east Tennessee on the 23rd. A surface low near Lake Charles LA would move up the boundary and produce a second round of rains on the 24th.
Flash Flood — Jul 21, 2022
A humid airmass remained in place beneath a west-northwesterly flow aloft. Weak boundaries triggered convection in WNW to ESE oriented bands, some which were anchored to higher terrain. The result was excessive rainfall with training cells.
Flash Flood — Jul 20, 2022
A humid airmass remained in place beneath a west-northwesterly flow aloft. Weak boundaries triggered convection in WNW to ESE oriented bands, some which were anchored to higher terrain. The result was excessive rainfall with training cells.
Flood — Feb 23, 2019
A strong low pressure system moved from northeast New Mexico to the Great Lakes during the period, providing strong southerly flow from the Gulf, and producing significant amounts of rainfall.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Anderson County, Tennessee:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Anderson County, Tennessee that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.