Enter any address in Bradley County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Bradley County, TN. Recent events include flash flooding on August 30, 2021, associated with Tropical Cyclone Ida's rainfall, and on August 15, 2021, when motorists were rescued from a stalled vehicle near Cleveland due to flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows a significant number of claims in Zone A, with an average payout of $11,035 and an average water depth of 2.6 feet. Claims were also filed in Zone X, X_UNSHADED, and X_SHADED, with average water depths ranging from 2.9 to 3.6 feet. Residents in Zone A, as well as those in other flood zones with recorded claims and water depths, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
2 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Bradley County, Tennessee has recorded 32 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 16 flash floods and 15 river or area floods. The county has received 18 federal disaster declarations, 2 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 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 12, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds And | Severe Storm | Feb 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 25, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 4, 2003 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 16, 1998 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 30, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 15, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 13, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 25, 2015 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Dec 25, 2015 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 5, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2012 | 1.00K |
Flash Flood — May 27, 2024
An upper trough, a shortwave, and a cold front combined in a potent environment to produce several rounds of severe thunderstorms in East Tennessee, producing large hail, damaging wind gusts, and some flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Aug 30, 2021
As Tropical Cyclone Ida moved northward from the Gulf Coast into central Mississippi, her convective bands produced locally heavy rainfall over the far southern portions of the east Tennessee.
Flash Flood — Mar 28, 2021
Thunderstorms with large hail spread northward across East Tennessee during the early morning hours of March 27, reaching southwest Virginia by late morning. These storms were associated with a warm front, which later stalled across northeast Tennessee. This stalled front was the focus of additional thunderstorms that produced damaging wind gusts and flooding in the evening of March 27 and into...
Flash Flood — Aug 15, 2021
Thunderstorm wind gusts resulted in damage to a home in Powell. Motorists were rescued from a stalled vehicle near Cleveland.
Flash Flood — Apr 13, 2020
A prolonged convective event with deep moist southerly flow in an unstable environment with strong wind shear generated supercell thunderstorms across Southeast Tennessee and Southwest North Carolina. The lengthy period of heavy rain resulted in widespread three to four inch rainfall totals across East Tennessee, Southwest North Carolina, and Southwest Virginia.
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 Bradley 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 Bradley 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.