Enter any address in Cocke County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is a significant hazard in Cocke County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 18 flood events and 17 flash flood events, resulting in 2 fatalities. For instance, on June 18, 2025, thunderstorms produced flash flooding and a mudslide that impacted Interstate 40 near Hartford. Earlier that year, on February 6, 2025, severe thunderstorms brought multiple hazards, including flash flooding to the region.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $71,568 and an average water depth of 8.0 feet. While Zone X and Zone X_Shaded have fewer claims, they still represent flood risk. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, as well as those located near rivers and streams, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
11 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Cocke County, Tennessee has recorded 35 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 17 flash floods and 18 river or area floods. The county has received 24 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1972–2026)
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 Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Dec 22, 2022 |
| 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 Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 25, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 17, 2010 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 24, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 18, 2025 | 500.00K |
| Flood | Feb 12, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 7, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.00K (2 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 24.30K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 24, 2022 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 24, 2025
Severe storms developed over the east Tennessee mountains during the afternoon of June 24th, then pushed northwest, off of the mountains and into the Tennessee valley during the late afternoon and evening hours. Some sporadic wind damage and one instance of flooding occurred.
Flash Flood — Jun 18, 2025
A handful of strong thunderstorms moved north out of Alabama and northern Georgia the afternoon of June 18th, affecting southeast Tennessee and areas in the east Tennessee mountains near the Great Smoky Mountains and Interstate 40. A few thunderstorms trained along the spine of the Smoky Mountains, producing flash flooding and a mudslide that impacted Interstate 40 just east of Hartford. These ...
Flood — Feb 12, 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.
Flood — Apr 7, 2025
A cold front swept through the southern Appalachian region on April 6th, producing several hours of moderate to heavy rainfall in the mountains of east Tennessee and western North Carolina. Runoff from this event resulted in the Pigeon River at Newport going into minor flood stage from late in the evening on April 7th and lasting into the early morning hours on April 8th.
Flash Flood — Feb 6, 2025
Warm front lifted north into Kentucky and severe thunderstorms, including discrete supercells, moved ahead of the cold front into East Tennessee, producing multiple hazards. Two tornadoes occurred in this event, an unusual occurrence for February in East Tennessee. The Morgan County tornado was the first confirmed February tornado in the county and the strongest February tornado in our area sin...
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 Cocke 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 Cocke 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.