Natural Disasters in Big Sandy, TN

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

39.1

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

33.8

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

65.4

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

15.4

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Earthquake88.4Landslide77.7Cold Wave73.5

Hazard	Risk Score
Earthquake	88.4
Landslide	77.7
Cold Wave	73.5
Ice Storm	56.2
Tornado	55.9
Strong Wind	52.3
Heat Wave	50.1
Lightning	47.4
Hurricane	40.5
Winter Weather	37.8
Drought	31.1
Hail	16.6
Wildfire	15.8

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

14 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 24, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Apr 2, 2025	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
May 17, 2023	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND TORNADO
Jul 9, 2020	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Apr 2, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Mar 5, 2020	Tornado	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Dec 6, 2019	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORM AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
May 9, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
May 1, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND ASSOCIATED FLOODING
May 4, 2010	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND TORNADOES
May 15, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Feb 7, 2008	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Apr 5, 2006	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES
Sep 5, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
May 8, 2003	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Jun 12, 2000	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Jan 19, 1999	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES AND HIGH WINDS
Mar 7, 1997	Tornado	HEAVY RAINS, TORNADOES, FLOODING, HAIL, HIGH WINDS
Feb 28, 1994	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER ICE STORM,FLASH FLOODING

Showing 20 of 21 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

Total Claims Paid

$510,825

Avg Claim Payout

$26,886

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$2,912,868

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

114

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-1909	Severe Storm(s)	39	$760,894
DR-4712	Severe Storm(s)	9	$398,076
DR-1974	Severe Storm(s)	5	$336,097
DR-1262	Severe Storm(s)	7	$327,997
DR-4471	Severe Storm(s)	8	$178,038
DR-4476	Tornado	5	$147,916
DR-1331	Severe Storm(s)	3	$141,793
DR-4550	Severe Storm(s)	7	$132,353
DR-1745	Severe Storm(s)	4	$121,699
DR-1979	Severe Storm(s)	12	$90,621
DR-1634	Severe Storm(s)	4	$86,727
DR-1464	Severe Storm(s)	6	$78,185
DR-1839	Severe Storm(s)	2	$75,264
DR-4514	Biological	1	$21,191
DR-4637	Severe Storm(s)	2	$16,017

Big Sandy has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are earthquake, landslide, cold wave. The area has had 21 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (14 declarations). 19 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $2,912,868 in public assistance recovery funding.