Decatur County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47039 · population 11,430 · 334 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 371 records for Decatur County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 312 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (90 records). The most damaging was the May 1, 2010 flash flood ($5.4 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 28 declarations naming the county since 1974, 26 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on February 6, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 371on 312 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 03 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $16Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 8strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 28latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Decatur County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 90 since 1975. 40% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1975 fell in April and May. The rank column places the county among Tennessee's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 90 | 84 | 1975-2026 | 0 | 2 | $4.8M | 76 of 95 |
| Heat | 86 | 82 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 95 |
| Hail | 56 | 43 | 1995-2024 | 0 | 0 | $56K | 36 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 47 | 46 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $18K | 41 of 95 |
| Floods | 46 | 43 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $7.2M | 11 of 95 |
| Drought | 21 | 21 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 35 of 95 |
| Extreme cold | 10 | 9 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 8 | 8 | 1984-2021 | 0 | 0 | $3.8M | 66 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 3 | 3 | 2007-2023 | 0 | 0 | $18K | 80 of 95 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2000-2013 | 0 | 1 | $26K | 50 of 95 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2013-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 40 of 95 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | $8K | 20 of 95 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Decatur County had?
NOAA records 8 tornadoes in Decatur County from 1984 to 2021, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 8 tornadoes whose track touched Decatur County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 8, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Decatur County (8)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-11 | Yellow Spgs, Decatur County | EF1 8.06 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $218K |
| 2021-03-27 | Largo, Decatur County | EF0 0.48 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-03-27 | Decaturville, Decatur County | EF1 5.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $181K |
| 2015-05-20 | Woodland, Decatur County | EF0 1.23 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2011-02-24 | Bible Hill, Decatur County | EF2 9.17 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.0M |
| 2010-05-02 | Lick Skillet, Decatur County | EF0 3.03 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2010-04-24 | Bible Hill, Decatur County | EF1 11.79 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 1984-05-07 | Decatur County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Decatur County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 27, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | HeatDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-29 | HeatDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-27 | Thunderstorm WindPerryville, Decatur County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Cold/Wind ChillDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-27 | Cold/Wind ChillDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-26 | Cold/Wind ChillDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Cold/Wind ChillDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-19 | HeatDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-18 | HeatDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-10-26 | Thunderstorm WindLiberty, Decatur County Straight line winds caused significant damage across Decatur County. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down around the county. A 300 foot tower buckled and fell north of Decaturville. A large tree fell on a trailer home and car in rural Decatur County. A woman was critically injured. Numerous homes and ... | 75 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $3.6M |
| 2013-02-10 | LightningParsons Scott Airport, Decatur County A woman was struck by lightning while lifting the garage door of a storage unit and suffered a minor injury to her right arm. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2001-05-31 | Thunderstorm WindBeacon, Decatur County One home sustained major damage. Thirty homes and other buildings had minor damage. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. | 65 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $167K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-05-01 | Flash FloodSugar Tree, Decatur County | 0 | 0 | $5.4M | |
| 2019-10-26 | Thunderstorm WindLiberty, Decatur County | 75 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $3.6M |
| 2011-02-24 | TornadoBible Hill, Decatur County | EF2 9.17 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.0M |
| 2010-04-24 | TornadoBible Hill, Decatur County | EF1 11.79 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2008-05-27 | Flash FloodParsons Scott Airport, Decatur County | 0 | 0 | $822K | |
| 2009-07-15 | Flash FloodSugar Tree, Decatur County | 0 | 0 | $413K | |
| 1997-03-02 | Flash FloodCountywide, Decatur County | 0 | 0 | $276K | |
| 2021-12-11 | TornadoYellow Spgs, Decatur County | EF1 8.06 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $218K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 7, 1984 (tornado, Decatur County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Decatur County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 29 | 24 | 12 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 23 | 62 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 21 | 13 | 9 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 8 | 22 | 15 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 26 | 11 | 5 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 6 | 6 | 9 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
40% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1975 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 35 · Feb 28 · Mar 34 · Apr 37 · May 50 · Jun 44 · Jul 65 · Aug 36 · Sep 9 · Oct 6 · Nov 12 · Dec 15 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Decatur County
FEMA's register lists 28 declarations that include Decatur County: 23 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (16) and tornado (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-06 | DR-4898 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3635 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-06-19 | DR-4878 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2025-04-02 | EM-3625 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2023-05-17 | DR-4712 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| 2022-01-14 | DR-4637 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2021-12-13 | EM-3576 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2021-05-08 | DR-4601 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2020-07-09 | DR-4550 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2020-04-02 | DR-4514 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3473 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-12-06 | DR-4471 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2019-04-17 | DR-4427 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2014-08-13 | DR-4189 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-05-09 | DR-1978 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2010-05-04 | DR-1909 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2009-08-21 | DR-1856 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3217 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-05-08 | DR-1464 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2003-03-20 | DR-1456 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2002-04-05 | DR-1408 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1999-05-12 | DR-1275 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1999-01-19 | DR-1262 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and High Winds |
| 1997-03-07 | DR-1167 | Tornado | Heavy Rains, Tornadoes, Flooding, Hail, High Winds |
| 1994-02-28 | DR-1010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash Flooding |
| 1979-05-07 | DR-585 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1975-03-22 | DR-459 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1974-04-04 | DR-424 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Decatur County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 46 flood or flash flood records for Decatur County from 1997 to 2025, on 43 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Decatur County ranks 1256th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.8 million on 111 claims filed in Decatur County; the most in one year was 80 in 2019. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2003: 7 · 2004: 6 · 2008: 1 · 2011: 3 · 2019: 80 · 2020: 14; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Decatur County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Decatur County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.4 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.6M | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $1.6M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.6M | once in about 187 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $298K | 12 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $370K | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $104K | 59 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $39K | once in about 32 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $788 | about once a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Decatur County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in TennesseeEvery Tennessee tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in TennesseeThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Tennessee recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Decatur CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Decatur County's FEMA declarations (CSV)28 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis