White County, TN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
White County has experienced 18 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.
White County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, earthquake, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 64% 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. White County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1973, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (7), flood (3), winter storm (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 |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 1999 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 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 | 30.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 42.7 | 12 | 0 | $25K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 68.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 18.2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 66 | 5 | 0 | $170K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 40.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 40 | 11 | 0 | $25K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 65.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 75.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 45.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 68.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 58.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 39.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 45.5 | 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
White County ranks in the 52nd 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 | 52nd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 87th | High |
| Household characteristics | 31st | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 17th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 22nd | Very 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 | 58th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 54th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 88.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 29 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 11 in 2016–20 vs 18 in 2021–25 (+64% — 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 White County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in White County, Tennessee are winter weather, earthquake, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has White County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. White County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (7 declarations).
Has White County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for White 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 White County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Cumberland County, TN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Van Buren County, TN has the lowest (Very Low). White County is rated Very Low overall.
How is White County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
White 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. White County's composite score of 39 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 39% of US counties.