Sevier County, TN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Sevier County has experienced 23 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Sevier County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, earthquake, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 188% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Sevier County has been designated in 23 declarations since 1972, covering 9 disaster types including severe storm (7), fire (4), flood (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2017 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2017 | Fire | Chimney Top Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 total declarations since 1972.
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 | Relatively Low | 78.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 84.1 | 38 | 0 | $3.9M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 90 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 36.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 70.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 56.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 56.2 | 21 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 63.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 81.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 61 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 68.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 84.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 28.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 97.4 | 3 | 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
Sevier County ranks in the 57th percentile (Moderate) 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 | 57th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 59th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 68th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 34th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 48th | 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 | 80th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 79th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 80.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 62 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 16 in 2016–20 vs 46 in 2021–25 (+188% — frequency increasing).
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 Sevier County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Sevier County, Tennessee are landslide, earthquake, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Sevier County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Sevier County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (7 declarations).
Has Sevier County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Sevier County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Winter Storm (2026), Tropical Storm Helene (2025), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Sevier County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Knox County, TN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Jefferson County, TN has the lowest (Relatively Low). Sevier County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Sevier County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Sevier 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. Sevier County's composite score of 77 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 77% of US counties.