Enter any address in Marion County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall is the dominant flood character in Marion County, TN. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 18 flash flood events and 11 general flood events, resulting in 3 fatalities. For example, heavy rains caused widespread flooding along some rivers in east Tennessee between February 12th and 14th, with some locations reaching moderate to major flood stages. More recently, a moist flow aloft produced heavy rainfall and flooding on March 2nd, 2023.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $11,322 and an average water depth of 3.8 feet. However, properties in Zone UNKNOWN have seen the deepest average water levels at 9.6 feet, despite fewer claims. Residents in Zone A, Zone X, and Zone UNKNOWN should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
7 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Marion County, Tennessee has recorded 30 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 18 flash floods and 11 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations, 6 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, Straight-line Winds, And Tornado | Severe Storm | Mar 1, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Tornado | Mar 25, 2021 |
| 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 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 5, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And | Severe Storm | Jun 18, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Mar 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 2, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 17, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 12, 2020 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Apr 12, 2020 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 17.00K |
| Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 3.50M |
| Flood | Feb 28, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 28, 2018 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
Flood — Mar 16, 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 — Mar 2, 2023
A moist, southwesterly fetch aloft paralleled a stationary front draped across northeast Tennessee to produce areas of heavy rainfall and flooding, along with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Flood — Mar 17, 2021
A low pressure system produced high winds in the mountains and foothills of East Tennessee during the early morning hours of March 18. Heavy rainfall also occurred across the southern Tennessee Valley and southern Plateau, resulting in flooding on the evening of the 17th and early morning of the 18th. Later in the day on the 18th, thunderstorms moved across the area, some of which produced larg...
Flash Flood — Apr 12, 2020
A prolonged convective event with deep moist southerly flow in an unstable environment with strong wind shear generated supercell thunderstorms across Southeast Tennessee and Southwest North Carolina. The lengthy period of heavy rain resulted in widespread three to four inch rainfall totals across East Tennessee, Southwest North Carolina, and Southwest Virginia.
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 Marion 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 Marion 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.