Perry County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47135 · population 8,329 · 415 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 306 records for Perry County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 237 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (134 records). The deadliest single record is the May 5, 1999 tornado: 3 deaths and $523,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1975, 22 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
- 306on 237 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 70 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $10Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 24latest 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 Perry County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 134 since 1957. 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 | 134 | 114 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.5M | 67 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 41 | 37 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $35K | 78 of 95 |
| Floods | 40 | 29 | 1997-2026 | 2 | 0 | $4.3M | 59 of 95 |
| Hail | 38 | 29 | 1988-2025 | 0 | 0 | $12K | 91 of 95 |
| Drought | 28 | 28 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 10 | 1999-2025 | 5 | 0 | $2.7M | 65 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 6 | 6 | 2005-2026 | 0 | 0 | $324K | 64 of 95 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2013-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 95 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 2022-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 57 of 95 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 54 of 95 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2018-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 45 of 95 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | $131K | 1 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 Perry County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Perry County from 1999 to 2025, the strongest rated F4, with 5 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 12 tornadoes whose track touched Perry County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 5 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-05-05 19:20, as SPC files it | Linden | F4 | 6 mi | 3 |
| 2015-12-23 18:17, as SPC files it | Linden | EF2 | 14.92 mi | 2 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Perry County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-30 | Linden Perry Co Airport, Perry County | EF0 0.3 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2021-12-11 | Pine View, Perry County | EF0 5.67 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $16K |
| 2017-08-31 | Sugar Hill, Perry County | EF0 0.25 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2017-03-27 | Sugar Hill, Perry County | EF0 1.07 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2016-03-31 | Sugar Hill, Perry County | EF0 3.09 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | $18K |
| 2015-12-23 | Sugar Hill, Perry County | EF2 9.52 mi x 500 yd | 2 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2010-05-02 | Beardstown, Perry County | EF1 6.93 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $217K |
| 2010-04-24 | Pine View, Perry County | EF1 5.01 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $95K |
| 2008-02-05 | Flat Wood, Perry County | EF1 1.37 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-02-05 | Lobelville, Perry County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-02-05 | Sugar Hill, Perry County | EF1 2.57 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $548K |
| 1999-05-05 | Linden, Perry County | F4 6 mi x 580 yd | 3 | 0 | $523K |
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 Perry County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 13, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-24 | FloodLobelville, Perry County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindDe Priest Bend, Perry County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtPerry County · forecast zone Perry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | Thunderstorm WindLinden, Perry County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtPerry County · forecast zone Perry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-27 | Thunderstorm WindLinden Perry Co Airport, Perry County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtPerry County · forecast zone Perry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-15 | Strong WindPerry County · forecast zone Perry | 39 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-03-07 | Thunderstorm WindBeardstown, Perry County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtPerry County · forecast zone Perry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Ice StormPerry County · forecast zone Perry | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-05 | Thunderstorm WindChestnut Grove, Perry County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-05-05 | TornadoLinden, Perry County An F4 tornado struck the town of Linden, located about 70 miles southwest of Nashville. The tornado damaged many homes, schools and businesses and churches. There were 3 fatalities. A 14 year old girl was sucked out of her home by the tornado as she, her father, and her mother were headed to the basement. Her dad was ... | F4 6 mi x 580 yd | 3 | 0 | $523K |
| 2015-12-23 | TornadoSugar Hill, Perry County An EF2 tornado touched down in southern Perry County with estimated maximum sustained winds around 115 mph. Starting along the Buffalo River near the Sugar Hill community four miles south of Linden, the tornado traveled to the east-northeast for 15 miles. Along the path, on Hurricane Creek Road, damage to a brick home ... | EF2 9.52 mi x 500 yd | 2 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2010-05-02 | FloodLobelville, Perry County A father and his special needs daughter were killed when trying to evacuate their mobile home. Also, numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood. | 2 | 0 | $3.8M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-05-02 | FloodLobelville, Perry County | 2 | 0 | $3.8M | |
| 2019-10-26 | Thunderstorm WindSpring Creek, Perry County | 83 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2008-02-05 | TornadoSugar Hill, Perry County | EF1 2.57 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $548K |
| 1999-05-05 | TornadoLinden, Perry County | F4 6 mi x 580 yd | 3 | 0 | $523K |
| 2020-05-03 | Thunderstorm WindLinden, Perry County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $358K |
| 2010-05-02 | TornadoBeardstown, Perry County | EF1 6.93 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $217K |
| 2010-04-24 | TornadoPine View, Perry County | EF1 5.01 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $95K |
| 2025-04-03 | Thunderstorm WindBeardstown, Perry County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
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 Perry 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 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 40 | 39 | 31 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 5 | 21 z | 11 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 14 | 12 | 11 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 7 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 6 | 4 | 18 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
Winter storms in the 2010s: 21 records against 5 in the decade before, 21 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Perry County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Perry County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 36 · Feb 17 · Mar 45 · Apr 40 · May 42 · Jun 37 · Jul 21 · Aug 18 · Sep 12 · Oct 11 · Nov 9 · Dec 18 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Perry County
FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include Perry County: 20 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (15) and winter storm (3).
| 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 |
| 2023-03-08 | DR-4691 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 2011-05-01 | DR-1974 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding |
| 2010-05-04 | DR-1909 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2008-02-07 | DR-1745 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3217 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-05-08 | DR-1464 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2000-06-12 | DR-1331 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, 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 |
| 1994-02-28 | DR-1010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash Flooding |
| 1991-06-21 | DR-910 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1979-05-07 | DR-585 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1975-03-22 | DR-459 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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 Perry County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 40 flood or flash flood records for Perry County from 1997 to 2026, on 29 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Perry County ranks 1253rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.5 million on 112 claims filed in Perry County; the most in one year was 37 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1991: 1 · 2003: 6 · 2004: 11 · 2005: 1 · 2010: 37 · 2011: 19 · 2014: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2019: 26 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 3; 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 Perry County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Perry County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $609K | once in about 237 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $3K | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $801K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $3.9M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $223K | 3.8 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $73K | 59 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $23K | once in about 35 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Perry 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 Perry CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Perry County's FEMA declarations (CSV)24 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis