Enter any address in Fayette County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Fayette County, TN. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database has recorded 26 flash flood events, alongside 6 general flood events and 1 tropical storm. Recent examples include flash flooding on July 21, 2023, caused by locally heavy rainfall from back-building storms, and flash flooding on February 23, 2019, associated with a strong cold front and thunderstorms.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone X have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $41,393 and an average water depth of 4.9 feet. Properties in Zone A have also seen claims, averaging $9,530 with 1.1 feet of water depth, while Zone X_Unshaded properties had fewer claims with minimal water depth. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, particularly those with higher average water depths and payouts, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
9 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Fayette County, Tennessee has recorded 33 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 26 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 21 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1994–2026)
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 And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jul 18, 2023 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 25, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Feb 3, 2022 |
| 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 | Severe Ice Storm | Mar 2, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 25, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 21, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 21, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 10, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 21, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 27, 2011 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 5, 2011 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 21, 2023
During the pre-dawn hours on July 21, 2023, an elevated east-west boundary was positioned across the Memphis Metropolitan area. Moderately strong low-level moisture transport across this boundary resulted in back-building storms and locally heavy rainfall. WSR 88D estimated over four inches of rain occurred across northeast Shelby County during the pre-dawn hours while a Mesonet station near C...
Flash Flood — Feb 23, 2019
A strong cold front produced a line of thunderstorms that caused flash flooding, some wind damage and funnel clouds to portions of west Tennessee during the afternoon and early evening hours of February 23rd.
Flood — Feb 21, 2018
A prolonged period of rainfall was generated along the backside of a slow moving cold front across portions of West Tennessee during the late evening hours of February 21st continuing into February 22nd. Another round of rain moved through parts of West Tennessee during the late evening of February 22 into the morning hours of February 23rd. Areal flooding was common across West Tennessee durin...
Flood — Mar 1, 2018
Persistent moderate to heavy rain fell over already well saturated soils and caused additional flooding over parts of southwest Tennessee during the morning hours of March 1st.
Flash Flood — May 26, 2016
A line of severe thunderstorms dropped south out of the Lower Ohio Valley and into the Midsouth on the afternoon of May 26th. A few storms were capable of damaging winds, small hail and flash flooding.
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 Fayette 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 Fayette 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.