Enter any address in Hamilton County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events dominates Hamilton County's flood history over the last 30 years, with 59 recorded flash flood events and 2 deaths. Other flood events and two tropical storms have also occurred. For example, extreme rainfall rates in August 2025 led to numerous water rescues, evacuations, flooded roads, and homes in Chattanooga.
National Flood Insurance Program data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $20,005 and an average water depth of 2.9 feet. While Zone X properties have also seen claims, the average payout and water depth were lower. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in areas with lower-lying terrain or without a designated Base Flood Elevation, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
17 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Hamilton County, Tennessee has recorded 86 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 59 flash floods and 25 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations, 5 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 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 8, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornado | Severe Storm | Mar 1, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 12, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 19, 2019 |
| Smith Mountain Fire Complex | Fire | Nov 11, 2016 |
| Flippers Bend Fire | Fire | Nov 5, 2016 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 27, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2025 | 1.70M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2025 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | May 2, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 21, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 5, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 27, 2025
Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across East Tennessee, during the afternoon and evening hours of June 27th. These storms produced mainly scattered wind damage, but also caused some flash flooding in Tennessee.
Flash Flood — Mar 15, 2025
A strong upper trough and low pressure system helped generate a powerful low level jet of winds that led to both high wind reports and wind damage. However, potential energy in the atmosphere was lacking, with severe storms only generating a handful of damage reports and funnel clouds.
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 12, 2025
A weak upper low helped advect near record moisture into Tennessee, where a boundary and classic heavy rain profiles combined to produce extreme rainfall rates over portions of Chattanooga, leading to numerous water rescues, a few evacuations, flooded interstate and local roads, flooded homes, and unfortunately a few fatalities. One fatality occurred in the east Brainerd area after a driver wen...
Flash Flood — May 2, 2025
An area of thunderstorms moved into eastern Tennessee during the afternoon hours on May 2, 2025. Damaging wind reports were seen throughout the Cumberland plateau and Tennessee valley, but the strongest storms and greatest concentration of severe weather reports were mainly in the southern Tennessee valley. Flash flooding, damaging winds, and even some severe sized hail were seen there.
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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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.