Meigs County, TN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Meigs County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Meigs County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, earthquake, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Meigs County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1973, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (10), winter storm (2), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1973.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 32.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 21.3 | 6 | 0 | $2K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 65.6 | 3 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 19 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 35.6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 28.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 16 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 57.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 20.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 21.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 36.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 34.4 | 1 | 0 | $2K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 39.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 76.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Meigs County ranks in the 49th percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 49th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 78th | High |
| Household characteristics | 22nd | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 27th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 34th | Low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 72nd | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 66th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 93.6% | — |
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Meigs County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Meigs County, Tennessee are landslide, earthquake, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Meigs County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Meigs County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Meigs County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Meigs County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Meigs County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Bradley County, TN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Bledsoe County, TN has the lowest (Very Low). Meigs County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Meigs County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Meigs County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Meigs County's composite score of 13 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 13% of US counties.