Enter any address in Cumberland County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Cumberland County. Between 1996 and 2024, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 32 flash flood events and 15 general flood events. For example, on March 15, 2025, a potent storm system brought thunderstorms that strengthened as they moved toward the Cumberland Plateau, causing wind damage in numerous locations. Later that year, on May 20, 2025, multiple rounds of thunderstorms impacted the region, producing damaging winds and hail.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced flood claims with an average payout of $3,890 and an average water depth of 18.0 feet. While Zone X also had claims, they showed an average payout of $0 with 0.0 feet of water depth. Homeowners in Zone A, particularly those near waterways or in low-lying areas, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
10 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Cumberland County, Tennessee has recorded 47 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 32 flash floods and 15 river or area floods. The county has received 26 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 (1969–2026)
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, Straight-line Winds, And Tornado | Severe Storm | Aug 7, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 27, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 15, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds And | Severe Storm | Feb 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 20, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2023 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 6, 2021 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 6, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 6, 2021 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Apr 12, 2020 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 20, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 11, 2019 | 5.00K |
Flash Flood — May 20, 2025
Multiple rounds of thunderstorms impacted Middle Tennessee on May 20, 2025. The first round of thunderstorms was a decaying mesoscale convective system (MCS) that produced damaging winds which downed a few trees. The next round was discrete supercells which produced large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. The largest hail reported during this event was in Williamson County where hailstones o...
Flash Flood — Mar 15, 2025
A potent storm system brought multiple rounds of thunderstorms and severe weather to Middle Tennessee on March 15, 2025. The main risk for severe weather was associated with a line of thunderstorms that tracks east across Middle Tennessee during the afternoon and evening hours. This line produced one EF-1 tornado near Christiana. As this line moved towards the Cumberland Plateau, it strengthene...
Flash Flood — Jul 20, 2023
A very strong squall line made its way through Middle Tennessee during the morning and afternoon hours of July 20, 2023. Damaging straight-line winds were the primary threat associated with this line of thunderstorms with wind gusts of 65 to 80 mph common. The most significant damage was reported in Sumner and Wilson counties with numerous reports of downed trees and powerlines received. Meanwh...
Flash Flood — Oct 6, 2021
Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed in the afternoon hours on October 6th and lasted well into the evening hours. Multiple reports of damaging winds, flash flooding, some hail, and even a tornado were received.
Flood — Oct 6, 2021
Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed in the afternoon hours on October 6th and lasted well into the evening hours. Multiple reports of damaging winds, flash flooding, some hail, and even a tornado were received.
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 Cumberland 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 Cumberland 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.