Enter any address in Claiborne County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding and riverine flooding have both been documented in Claiborne County, TN over the past 30 years. Recent events include flooding in February 2025, attributed to heavy rainfall associated with synoptic systems and severe thunderstorms. For instance, on February 16, 2025, widespread flooding was reported across northern East Tennessee following significant rainfall. Another event on February 13, 2025, saw rivers reach moderate to major flood stages after 2 to 3 inches of rain fell across the region.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $14,707 and water depths averaging 2.2 feet. However, properties in Zone X have seen higher average payouts of $30,959, despite fewer claims and an average water depth of 1.8 feet. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, as well as those in Zone X and areas with unknown flood risk, should pay close attention to flood potential.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
7 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Claiborne County, Tennessee has recorded 32 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 18 flash floods and 14 river or area floods. The county has received 21 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 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 26, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Tornado | Mar 25, 2021 |
| 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, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds And | Severe Storm | Feb 29, 2012 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Feb 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 9, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 28, 2021 | 1.20M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Feb 16, 2025
A strong synoptic system with heavy rainfall during warm front passage followed by additional rainfall during the severe thunderstorms along the cold front led to reports of flooding in northern portions of East Tennessee. Additionally, strong winds powered by strong winds aloft mixed to the surface, bringing wind advisory conditions to the whole area, a few high wind reports, and some wind dam...
Flood — Feb 16, 2025
A strong synoptic system with heavy rainfall during warm front passage followed by additional rainfall during the severe thunderstorms along the cold front led to reports of flooding in northern portions of East Tennessee. Additionally, strong winds powered by strong winds aloft mixed to the surface, bringing wind advisory conditions to the whole area, a few high wind reports, and some wind dam...
Flood — Feb 15, 2025
A strong synoptic system with heavy rainfall during warm front passage followed by additional rainfall during the severe thunderstorms along the cold front led to reports of flooding in northern portions of East Tennessee. Additionally, strong winds powered by strong winds aloft mixed to the surface, bringing wind advisory conditions to the whole area, a few high wind reports, and some wind dam...
Flood — Feb 13, 2025
Heavy rains, categorized by widespread 2 to 3 inch rainfall totals, affected the Morristown forecast area and broader southern Appalachian region on February 11th and 12th. This lead to flooding along some rivers in east Tennessee between February 12th and 14th, during which time some locations reached moderate to major flood stages.
Flash Flood — Aug 2, 2025
Showers and thunderstorms affected northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia during the afternoon and evening hours of August 2nd. Areas from Claiborne county, southeast through Greene and Cocke counties were affected the most. Some reports of flooding were received from Claiborne and Cocke counties.
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 Claiborne 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 Claiborne 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.