Polk County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47139 · population 17,531 · 435 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 355 records for Polk County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 262 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (202 records). The deadliest single record is the November 30, 2016 tornado: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1974, 21 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
- 355on 262 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 411 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $23Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 14strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 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 Polk County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 202 since 1966. 50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1966 fell in June and July. 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 | 202 | 167 | 1966-2026 | 1 | 1 | $2.0M | 35 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 56 | 34 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 84 of 95 |
| Hail | 46 | 43 | 1970-2021 | 0 | 0 | $202 | 62 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 17 | 11 | 1996-2012 | 0 | 0 | $273K | 32 of 95 |
| Floods | 15 | 12 | 2003-2021 | 0 | 0 | $6.8M | 95 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 14 | 12 | 1973-2020 | 3 | 10 | $14M | 57 of 95 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 2004-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 25 of 95 |
| Drought | 2 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | – | 81 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 Polk County had?
NOAA records 14 tornadoes in Polk County from 1973 to 2020, the strongest rated EF3, with 3 deaths and 10 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 14 tornadoes whose track touched Polk County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 14, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 30 people, 3 of them in Polk County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 18:15, as SPC files it | ClevelandCrossed GA, TN | EF4 | 48 mi | 20 |
| 2011-04-27 16:28, as SPC files it | Cleveland | EF2 | 27.95 mi | 4 |
| 1974-04-03 16:15, as SPC files it | Cleveland | F3 | 21.2 mi | 3 |
| 2016-11-30 01:28, as SPC files it | Benton | EF3 | 4.6 mi | 2 |
| 1974-04-03 13:05, as SPC files it | Cleveland | F3 | 18.1 mi | 1 |
| 2012-03-02 11:41, as SPC files it | Chattanooga | EF3 | 41 mi | 0 |
| 1986-02-06 15:18, as SPC files it | Cleveland | F3 | 10 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Polk County (14)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-12 | Benton Station, Polk County | EF0 0.52 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-11-30 | Ocoee, Polk County | EF3 4.6 mi x 155 yd | 2 | 0 | – |
| 2012-03-02 | Patty, Polk County | EF1 7.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2011-04-27 | Benton Station, Polk County | EF1 6.75 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $66K |
| 2011-04-27 | Benton Station, Polk County | EF1 4.1 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 0 | $66K |
| 2010-04-25 | Postelle, Polk County | EF0 1.24 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $27K |
| 2008-05-18 | Benton Spgs, Polk County | EF0 2.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-05-07 | Ducktown, Polk County | F1 5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $272K |
| 1997-03-29 | Grassy Creek, Polk County | F1 3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $184K |
| 1986-02-06 | Polk County | F3 2 mi x 270 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1974-04-03 | Polk County | F3 5.4 mi x 500 yd | 1 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Polk County | F3 2.7 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1974-03-21 | Polk County | F2 0.8 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 7 | $250K step |
| 1973-12-13 | Polk County | F2 0.8 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K 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 Polk County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the November 30, 2016 tornado (2 deaths).
The tornado formed south of Ocoee with several large trees snapped. It strengthened to an EF-2 and moved north northeast and collapsed a cell phone tower. It quickly increased to an EF-3 and heavily damaged a post office. Several more buildings were heavily damaged along with some manufactured homes. Two fatalities occurred in the manufactured housing. Twenty other people were injured in this area. The tornado weakened to an EF-0 as it moved northeast towards Benton. It snapped off the tops of a few pine trees.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 662323)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindPine Ridge, Polk County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindTurtletown, Polk County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindHambright, Polk County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindReliance, Polk County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindDogtown, Polk County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-31 | Heavy SnowPolk County · forecast zone West Polk | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-04 | Thunderstorm WindSylco, Polk County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindHambright, Polk County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-02 | Thunderstorm WindParksville, Polk County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-02 | Thunderstorm WindOak Grove, Polk County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-19 | Winter WeatherPolk County · forecast zone West Polk | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-10 | Winter WeatherPolk County · forecast zone West Polk | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-11-30 | TornadoOcoee, Polk County The tornado formed south of Ocoee with several large trees snapped. It strengthened to an EF-2 and moved north northeast and collapsed a cell phone tower. It quickly increased to an EF-3 and heavily damaged a post office. Several more buildings were heavily damaged along with some manufactured homes. Two fatalities ... | EF3 4.6 mi x 155 yd | 2 | 0 | – |
| 2011-02-28 | Thunderstorm WindBenton, Polk County Law enforcement personnel reported a tree downed by thunderstorm wind on a mobile home 10 miles south of Benton in a the Old Fort Area on Ladd Springs Road. | 52 kt wind | 1 | 1 | $20K |
| 1974-04-03 | TornadoPolk County | F3 5.4 mi x 500 yd | 1 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1974-03-21 | TornadoPolk County | F2 0.8 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 7 | $250K step |
| 1973-12-13 | TornadoPolk County | F2 0.8 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-05-06 | Flash FloodCountywide, Polk County | 0 | 0 | $6.8M | |
| 2012-03-02 | TornadoPatty, Polk County | EF1 7.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 1998-05-07 | TornadoDucktown, Polk County | F1 5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $272K |
| 1997-03-29 | TornadoGrassy Creek, Polk County | F1 3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $184K |
| 2010-04-25 | TornadoPostelle, Polk County | EF0 1.24 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $27K |
| 2011-02-28 | Thunderstorm WindBenton, Polk County | 52 kt wind | 1 | 1 | $20K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: February 6, 1986 (tornado, Polk 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 Polk 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 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 35 | 77 | 48 | 34 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 16 | 23 | 13 | 4 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 21 | 5 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1966 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 33 · Feb 33 · Mar 27 · Apr 32 · May 36 · Jun 61 · Jul 54 · Aug 25 · Sep 7 · Oct 4 · Nov 12 · Dec 31 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Polk County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Polk County: 17 major disasters, 5 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for severe storm (12) and flood (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 |
| 2025-04-02 | EM-3625 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2024-06-17 | DR-4792 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2023-05-17 | DR-4712 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| 2020-04-24 | DR-4541 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2020-04-02 | DR-4514 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3473 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012-03-16 | DR-4060 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and |
| 2011-05-01 | DR-1974 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3217 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-10-07 | DR-1568 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-05-08 | DR-1464 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2001-11-03 | FM-2387 | Fire | Tn - Chattanooga Fire Complex - 11/03/01 |
| 1998-04-20 | DR-1215 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1998-01-13 | DR-1197 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1997-04-02 | DR-1171 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1994-04-14 | DR-1022 | Flood | Extensive Rainfall and Flash Flooding |
| 1994-02-28 | DR-1010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash Flooding |
| 1993-03-14 | EM-3095 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1991-01-04 | DR-889 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1990-02-27 | DR-858 | 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 Polk County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 15 flood or flash flood records for Polk County from 2003 to 2021, on 12 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Polk County ranks 1731st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $638,000 on 43 claims filed in Polk County; the most in one year was 15 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1994: 3 · 1995: 7 · 2003: 15 · 2004: 6 · 2013: 5 · 2015: 2 · 2020: 5; 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 Polk County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Polk County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $159K | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $641K | 3.9 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $187K | once in about 327 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $560K | once in about 214 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $161K | 61 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $853K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $58K | 31 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $3.6M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Polk 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 Polk CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Polk County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis