Hamblen County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47063 · population 64,438 · 161 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 340 records for Hamblen County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 249 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (191 records). The most damaging was the September 28, 2024 flood ($10.3 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1973, 13 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
- 340on 249 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 03 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $14Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 2strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 15latest 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 Hamblen County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 191 since 1963. 42% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1963 fell in May and June. 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 | 191 | 147 | 1963-2026 | 0 | 1 | $1.8M | 1 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 56 | 43 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 95 |
| Hail | 54 | 46 | 1959-2024 | 0 | 0 | $17K | 2 of 95 |
| Floods | 26 | 19 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $12M | 15 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 7 | 7 | 2003-2024 | 0 | 2 | $31K | 11 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 1985-2011 | 0 | 0 | $82K | 82 of 95 |
| Drought | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | – | 63 of 95 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2019-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 44 of 95 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | $19K | 4 of 95 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2006-2006 | 0 | 0 | $29K | 48 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 Hamblen County had?
NOAA records 2 tornadoes in Hamblen County from 1985 to 2011, the strongest rated F1, 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 3 tornadoes whose track touched Hamblen County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 2: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Hamblen County (2)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 | Alpha, Hamblen County | EF0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $13K |
| 1985-11-27 | Hamblen County | F1 2 mi x 40 yd | 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 Hamblen County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 20, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherHamblen County · forecast zone Hamblen | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-20 | Thunderstorm WindAlpha, Hamblen County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowHamblen County · forecast zone Hamblen | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter WeatherHamblen County · forecast zone Hamblen | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-18 | Thunderstorm WindAlpha, Hamblen County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-09-04 | Thunderstorm WindRussellville, Hamblen County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindNew Line, Hamblen County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-06 | Flash FloodAlpha, Hamblen County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindRoe, Hamblen County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-19 | Winter WeatherHamblen County · forecast zone Hamblen | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-10 | Winter WeatherHamblen County · forecast zone Hamblen | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-09-28 | FloodLowland, Hamblen County | 0 | 0 | $10M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-01 | High WindHamblen County · forecast zone Hamblen A tree was blown over and fell on a motorcyclist on Mountain Valley Road near the Hamblen/Greene county line. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2019-04-26 | Strong WindHamblen County · forecast zone Hamblen A gust of wind associated with a rain shower (no lightning was observed) of around 30-40 mph, caused a large limb to break free from a dead tree. Winds across the area were gusting in the 30-40 mph range all day long; just below advisory criteria. The limb struck and killed an 85 year old woman who was outside at the ... | 35 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2016-07-06 | Thunderstorm WindAlpha, Hamblen County A tree was downed onto a car on Greenbriar Road. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-28 | FloodLowland, Hamblen County | 0 | 0 | $10M | |
| 2019-02-23 | FloodRussellville, Hamblen County | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2004-07-25 | Thunderstorm WindMorristown, Hamblen County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $62K |
| 2005-04-22 | Thunderstorm WindMorristown, Hamblen County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $38K |
| 2026-02-20 | Thunderstorm WindAlpha, Hamblen County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
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: November 27, 1985 (tornado, Hamblen 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 Hamblen 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 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 34 | 62 | 43 | 39 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 12 | 23 | 11 |
| Hail | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 22 | 7 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 6 | 10 | 7 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
42% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1963 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 40 · Feb 33 · Mar 15 · Apr 24 · May 54 · Jun 59 · Jul 47 · Aug 31 · Sep 13 · Oct 1 · Nov 5 · Dec 18 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Hamblen County
FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Hamblen County: 9 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (3) and winter storm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-06 | DR-4898 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3635 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-04-02 | EM-3625 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2024-10-02 | DR-4832 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2024-09-27 | EM-3620 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2020-04-02 | DR-4514 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3473 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-04-17 | DR-4427 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-04-02 | DR-4211 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3217 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1998-04-20 | DR-1215 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1994-04-14 | DR-1022 | Flood | Extensive Rainfall and Flash Flooding |
| 1993-03-14 | EM-3095 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1974-04-04 | DR-424 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 1973-03-21 | DR-366 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
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 Hamblen County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 26 flood or flash flood records for Hamblen County from 1997 to 2025, on 19 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Hamblen County ranks 1976th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Helene | 2024-09-28 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $275,000 on 26 claims filed in Hamblen County; the most in one year was 4 in 2019. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 1 · 1982: 2 · 1983: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1994: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 2 · 2004: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2011: 2 · 2012: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2023: 2; 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 Hamblen County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hamblen County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $12.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $547K | 52 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $2.5M | once in about 297 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $20K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.5M | once in about 25 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $96K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $6.2M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $433K | 4.5 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $49K | 4.7 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 Hamblen 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 Hamblen CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Hamblen County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis