Enter any address in Hamblen County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Hamblen County. Recent events include scattered showers and thunderstorms producing isolated flooding on June 6th, and a second round of rains on February 24th, 2022, associated with a stalled cold front.
Tropical Storm Helene also contributed to flooding in September 2024, causing catastrophic flash and river flooding alongside wind damage. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 14 flash flood events and 12 flood events, with one tropical storm event.
Homeowners in Zone A, which has seen 10 NFIP claims averaging $8,119, should pay close attention. Properties in Zone X, despite having fewer claims (8), have shown higher average payouts of $17,533 and greater average water depths of 0.9 feet, suggesting that areas designated as Zone X may also experience significant flood impacts.
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.
Hamblen County, Tennessee has recorded 27 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 14 flash floods and 12 river or area floods. The county has received 15 federal disaster declarations, 3 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 |
| 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 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 16, 1998 |
| Extensive Rainfall And Flash Flooding | Flood | Mar 25, 1994 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 28, 2024 | 11.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 3, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 26, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 24, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 1.23M |
| Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 6, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 7, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 28, 2011 | 5.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 6, 2025
Scattered showers and thunderstorms moved through middle and eastern Tennessee during the afternoon of June 6th, ahead of a developing surface low over far western Tennessee and the Missouri Bootheel region. These storms produced some marginally severe hail, damaging winds, and some isolated flooding as well.
Flood — Sep 28, 2024
Tropical Storm Helene caps off a several day heavy rainfall event in association with a stalled closed upper low that drew a stream of tropical moisture into the area on the 25th and 26th. The arrival of Helene on the 27th yielded catastrophic flash flooding and river flooding, as well as significant wind damage as wet soils and strong wind gusts led to forest damage.
Flash Flood — Jul 3, 2023
A thunderstorm produced heavy rain near central Morristown. Clogged culverts limited drainage.
Flash Flood — Aug 26, 2022
Regenerating morning convection anchored over eastern portions of Hamblen County and Morristown produced flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Feb 24, 2022
A moist southwesterly flow aloft ran nearly parallel to a stalled cold front near east Tennessee on the 23rd. A surface low near Lake Charles LA would move up the boundary and produce a second round of rains on the 24th.
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 Hamblen 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 Hamblen 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.