Sequatchie County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47153 · population 15,811 · 266 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 279 records for Sequatchie County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 209 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (150 records). The deadliest single record is the February 16, 2015 cold/wind chill, filed for the forecast zone Sequatchie, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1973, 19 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
- 279on 209 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 29 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $13Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest EF4
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 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 Sequatchie County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 150 since 1976. 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 | 150 | 123 | 1976-2026 | 0 | 1 | $1.4M | 22 of 95 |
| Hail | 43 | 31 | 1977-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 41 | 39 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 35 of 95 |
| Floods | 26 | 24 | 1998-2025 | 1 | 0 | $9.4M | 40 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 7 | 1964-2016 | 0 | 8 | $2.3M | 59 of 95 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 2 | 2003-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 95 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2013-2022 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 12 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 2 | 2 | 2006-2016 | 0 | 0 | $22K | 86 of 95 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 2015-2015 | 1 | 0 | – | 41 of 95 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | $23K | 9 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 Sequatchie County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Sequatchie County from 1964 to 2016, the strongest rated EF4, with 0 deaths and 8 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Sequatchie County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 4 people, 0 of them in Sequatchie County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 19:06, as SPC files it | Dunlap | EF4 | 40.16 mi | 4 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Sequatchie County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-11-29 | Cartwright, Sequatchie County | EF2 7.59 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2011-04-27 | Dunlap, Sequatchie County | EF1 3.4 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $98K |
| 2011-04-27 | Dunlap, Sequatchie County | EF2 4.5 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $262K |
| 2011-04-27 | Daus, Sequatchie County | EF4 7.86 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $328K |
| 2009-04-10 | Dunlap, Sequatchie County | EF1 0.2 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $21K |
| 2009-04-10 | Dunlap, Sequatchie County | EF2 5 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | $138K |
| 2009-03-28 | Dunlap, Sequatchie County | EF0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $41K |
| 1997-03-28 | Cagle, Sequatchie County | F2 6 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $184K |
| 1994-06-26 | Lewis Chapel, Sequatchie County | F2 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 1964-08-12 | Sequatchie County | F2 0.8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 6 | $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 Sequatchie County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 27, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($50,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Couple dozen medium to large trees were blown down along Kell Loop Road outside of Dunlap, TN. A small trailer was blown onto its side, off of the hitch. Another small trailer was dragged in the mud a couple feet. Two porch chairs were blown and dropped on a fence. A couple of chickens were killed. Several trees fell on power lines, resulting in a few power outages. One mailbox was separated from its post and blown into a ditch, underneath the powerlines.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1274464)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherSequatchie County · forecast zone Sequatchie | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindDunlap, Sequatchie County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowSequatchie County · forecast zone Sequatchie | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-18 | Flash FloodCagle, Sequatchie County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindCenter Pt, Sequatchie County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindDunlap, Sequatchie County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-20 | HailEwtonville, Sequatchie County | 0.88 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindEwtonville, Sequatchie County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindDunlap, Sequatchie County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-15 | Thunderstorm WindFredonia, Sequatchie County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-19 | Winter WeatherSequatchie County · forecast zone Sequatchie | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-10 | Winter StormSequatchie County · forecast zone Sequatchie | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-02-16 | Cold/Wind ChillSequatchie County · forecast zone Sequatchie Emergency manager reported a 85 year old male died. It was hypothermia related. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2011-04-27 | FloodDunlap, Sequatchie County Law enforcement personnel reported thunderstorms produced flooding on Hwy 127 in Dunlap. A middle aged man, who was intoxicated, jumped into the high water, drowned and was later found 60 yards downstream. | 1 | 0 | $13K | |
| 1964-08-12 | TornadoSequatchie County | F2 0.8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 6 | $25K step |
| 2016-11-29 | TornadoCartwright, Sequatchie County A tornado formed in far northern Marion County, about one half mile from the Sequatchie County border and quickly intensified to a strong EF-2 tornado with winds of 130 mph as it crossed into Sequatchie County. A double wide mobile home was completely destroyed and an adjacent church roof was heavily damaged. The ... | EF2 7.59 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2006-07-21 | Thunderstorm WindDunlap, Sequatchie County High winds picked up a yard sale tent and a pole supporting the tent crashed through a truck window into the leg of the driver near Ewtonville Baptist Church on U.S. Highway 127. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $1K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-05-05 | Flash FloodCountywide, Sequatchie County | 0 | 0 | $9.0M | |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoDaus, Sequatchie County | EF4 7.86 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $328K |
| 2003-02-14 | FloodSequatchie County · forecast zone Sequatchie | 0 | 0 | $305K | |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoDunlap, Sequatchie County | EF2 4.5 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $262K |
| 1997-03-28 | TornadoCagle, Sequatchie County | F2 6 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $184K |
| 2009-04-10 | TornadoDunlap, Sequatchie County | EF2 5 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | $138K |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoDunlap, Sequatchie County | EF1 3.4 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $98K |
| 2025-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindCenter Pt, Sequatchie County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
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: August 12, 1964 (tornado, Sequatchie 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 Sequatchie 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 | 4 | 16 | 59 | 47 | 22 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 8 | 4 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 14 | 10 | 11 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 12 | 5 | 8 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
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 Sequatchie County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 23 · Feb 34 · Mar 32 · Apr 50 · May 34 · Jun 36 · Jul 25 · Aug 13 · Sep 8 · Oct 7 · Nov 7 · Dec 10 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Sequatchie County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Sequatchie County: 13 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 3 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and fire (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 |
| 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 |
| 2016-11-11 | FM-5160 | Fire | Smith Mountain Fire Complex |
| 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 |
| 2009-05-15 | DR-1839 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, 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 |
| 2001-11-03 | FM-2387 | Fire | Tn - Chattanooga Fire Complex - 11/03/01 |
| 1999-04-13 | FM-2250 | Fire | Tn - Wildfires 4/13/99 |
| 1999-01-15 | DR-1260 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1998-01-13 | DR-1197 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1997-04-02 | DR-1171 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1994-02-28 | DR-1010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash Flooding |
| 1993-03-14 | EM-3095 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 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 Sequatchie County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 26 flood or flash flood records for Sequatchie County from 1998 to 2025, on 24 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Sequatchie County ranks 2085th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $134,000 on 20 claims filed in Sequatchie County; the most in one year was 14 in 2009. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2003: 3 · 2009: 14 · 2019: 1 · 2024: 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 Sequatchie County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Sequatchie County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.0 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 | $5.4M | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $6K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $992K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $46K | 5.5 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $361K | 4.9 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $3.6M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $102K | 62 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $271K | once in about 311 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Sequatchie 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 Sequatchie CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Sequatchie County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis