Enter any address in Macon County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe weather events is the dominant flood character in Macon County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 35 flash flood events compared to 5 general flood events. Recent examples include summertime thunderstorms causing flooding in the Lafayette area in July 2024, and a prolonged period of heavy rain in February 2019 that led to widespread flooding across Middle Tennessee.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced 14 claims with an average payout of $5,486 and an average water depth of 1.5 feet. While Zone X has had fewer claims (2), the average payout was significantly higher at $30,185, with an average water depth of 2.5 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Macon County, Tennessee has recorded 40 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 35 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 21 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 (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, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 8, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Mar 31, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornado | Severe Storm | Mar 1, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 17, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Apr 30, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 5, 2008 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Feb 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 29, 2019 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 16, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 27, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 20, 2018 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 17, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2016 | 25.00K |
Flash Flood — Feb 16, 2025
A major severe weather and flooding event unfolded across Middle Tennessee on February 15-16, 2025. As well above average moisture spread into the area, this helped set the stage for very heavy rainfall across Middle Tennessee. Showers and thunderstorms began early during the day on February 15th, and the primary threat with this first round was flooding. The most significant flooding was repor...
Flash Flood — Feb 15, 2025
A major severe weather and flooding event unfolded across Middle Tennessee on February 15-16, 2025. As well above average moisture spread into the area, this helped set the stage for very heavy rainfall across Middle Tennessee. Showers and thunderstorms began early during the day on February 15th, and the primary threat with this first round was flooding. The most significant flooding was repor...
Flash Flood — Jul 28, 2024
Summertime thunderstorms impacted Middle Tennessee on July 28, 2024. One of these typical summertime storms produced heavy rain in Macon County, causing flooding in the Lafayette area.
Flash Flood — Dec 29, 2019
Widespread heavy rainfall fell across Middle Tennessee on December 29, resulting in significant flash flooding. One person was killed in Sumner County.
Flash Flood — Feb 23, 2019
A stationary frontal boundary stalled near the Tennessee Valley for nearly a week in mid to late February 2019. Persistent southwest flow aloft brought copious amounts of Gulf of Mexico moisture northward and interacted with this boundary for many days, causing a prolonged period of heavy rain and flooding throughout Middle Tennessee from Tuesday, February 19 through early Sunday, February 24. ...
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 Macon 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 Macon 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.