Enter any address in Monroe County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Monroe County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 21 flash flood events and 18 flood events. Recent examples include significant flash flooding in August 2023, resulting from repeated and training thunderstorms, and another flash flood event in May 2025.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced an average of 13.9 feet of water depth with an average payout of $5,069. Properties in Zone X have seen an average water depth of 6.7 feet with a higher average payout of $29,883. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X, 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.
Monroe County, Tennessee has recorded 39 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 21 flash floods and 18 river or area floods. The county has received 18 federal disaster declarations, 2 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, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 12, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 15, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds And | Severe Storm | Feb 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 25, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 2, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 30, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 15, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 14, 2023 | 10.00M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 31, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 14, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 30, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 25, 2015 | 5.00K |
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.
Flash Flood — Jul 30, 2024
An upper level shortwave coupled with strong wind fields brought multiple rounds of severe weather to East Tennessee, including two mesoscale convective systems. Flash flooding occurred in Knox county.
Flood — Aug 15, 2023
A highly anomalous weather pattern involving a closed low and a trailing cold front brought discrete thunderstorms and multicell clusters in multiple rounds to east Tennessee. Repeat events as well as training of cells resulted in flash flooding, some of it significant.
Flash Flood — Aug 14, 2023
A highly anomalous weather pattern involving a closed low and a trailing cold front brought discrete thunderstorms and multicell clusters in multiple rounds to east Tennessee. Repeat events as well as training of cells resulted in flash flooding, some of it significant.
Flash Flood — Aug 5, 2022
Several clusters of storms moved from southwest to northeast across East Tennessee, producing widespread wind damage in the form of downed trees.
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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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.