Natural Disasters in Columbia, TN

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

79.3

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

82.3

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

24.1

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

61.7

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Tornado94.0Strong Wind92.3Earthquake89.8

Hazard	Risk Score
Tornado	94.0
Strong Wind	92.3
Earthquake	89.8
Cold Wave	87.0
Ice Storm	81.6
Winter Weather	71.8
Heat Wave	60.9
Lightning	57.3
Landslide	51.1
Hurricane	38.4
Wildfire	33.2
Drought	28.5
Hail	9.2

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

Feb 2026

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

11 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Feb 6, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Jan 24, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Jun 17, 2024	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Mar 8, 2023	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
May 8, 2021	Tornado	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
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
Aug 13, 2014	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
May 4, 2010	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND TORNADOES
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
Apr 5, 2002	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Jan 19, 1999	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES AND HIGH WINDS
Apr 20, 1998	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES AND FLOODING
Feb 28, 1994	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER ICE STORM,FLASH FLOODING
May 7, 1979	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING
Mar 22, 1975	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Mar 21, 1973	Flood	HEAVY RAINS & FLOODING

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

868

Total IA Distributed

$2,858,794

Repair/Replace

$578,092

Rental Assistance

$93,225

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-1634	8	N/A	$365
DR-4476	1	N/A	—
DR-1979	1	N/A	—
DR-4514	376	$2,139,121	—
DR-1909	469	$694,556	$6,759
DR-1464	13	$25,117	$1,180

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

198

Total Claims Paid

$3,317,673

Avg Claim Payout

$16,756

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$7,608,831

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

356

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4792	Severe Storm(s)	15	$2,883,289
DR-1909	Severe Storm(s)	176	$1,963,582
DR-4550	Severe Storm(s)	6	$828,668
DR-1464	Severe Storm(s)	72	$443,378
DR-4601	Severe Storm(s)	11	$358,109
DR-4691	Winter Storm	14	$323,015
DR-1408	Severe Storm(s)	34	$299,376
DR-4189	Severe Storm(s)	6	$242,018
DR-4514	Biological	13	$171,314
DR-1262	Severe Storm(s)	9	$96,082

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$3,207,121

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.99

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	3	$1,666,565
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	2	$75,708
206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures	1	$1,333,715
90.4: Mitigation Plan - Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	1	$83,133
601.2: Generators - Regular	1	$48,000

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Columbia has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are tornado, strong wind, earthquake. The area has had 20 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (11 declarations). 198 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $7,608,831 in public assistance recovery funding. $2,858,794 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 8 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.