Enter any address in Washington County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Washington County, TN. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 29 flash flood events and 16 general flood events, resulting in five fatalities. Recent events include heavy rains and notable flooding near the I-26 corridor between Kingsport and Johnson City in August 2025.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $56,629 and an average water depth of 4.3 feet. While Zone X areas have seen fewer claims, some have experienced higher average water depths, such as Zone X (unshaded) with an average of 7.9 feet. Residents in Zone A, as well as those in areas with higher recorded water depths, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Washington County, Tennessee has recorded 45 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 29 flash floods and 16 river or area floods. The county has received 16 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 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 26, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Dec 22, 2022 |
| 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, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 25, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 27, 2001 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 30, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 23, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 12, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 39.00M (4 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2023 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Feb 24, 2022 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 30, 2025
Training thunderstorms affected the far northeast Tennessee valley and southwest Virginia on the evening of the 30th, producing some flash flooding across those areas.
Flood — Aug 23, 2025
Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and evening hours of the 23rd. The slow moving nature of these storms resulted in heavy rains and notable flooding near the I-26 corridor between Kingsport and Johnson City.
Flash Flood — Jul 12, 2025
Diurnal showers and thunderstorms yielded a briefly severe storm in Campbell County.
Flash Flood — Jul 9, 2025
An upper level shortwave combined with an extremely humid atmosphere generated several thunderstorms that produced heavy rainfall yielding a few flash floods along with an isolated severe storm in East Tennessee.
Flash Flood — Sep 27, 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.
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 Washington 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 Washington 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.