Natural Disasters in Karns, TN

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

92.1

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

93.2

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

22.7

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

61.3

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Lightning98.1Earthquake96.8Tornado96.7

Hazard	Risk Score
Lightning	98.1
Earthquake	96.8
Tornado	96.7
Landslide	96.5
Winter Weather	95.4
Cold Wave	92.6
Ice Storm	92.3
Strong Wind	89.3
Heat Wave	72.6
Hurricane	65.8
Wildfire	63.0
Hail	59.7
Drought	39.4

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

8 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
Sep 27, 2023	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND TORNADO
Mar 8, 2023	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Apr 2, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Apr 17, 2019	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Jun 23, 2017	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Apr 2, 2015	Severe Ice Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND FLOODING
Jul 20, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND
May 1, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND ASSOCIATED FLOODING
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
Apr 20, 1998	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES AND FLOODING
Mar 14, 1993	Snowstorm	SEVERE SNOWFALL, WINTER STORM
Apr 4, 1974	Tornado	TORNADOES
Mar 21, 1973	Flood	HEAVY RAINS & FLOODING

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

597

Total Claims Paid

$7,903,130

Avg Claim Payout

$13,238

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$26,617,614

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

259

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4514	Biological	23	$7,326,883
DR-4005	Severe Storm(s)	21	$4,380,837
DR-4742	Severe Storm(s)	12	$4,102,304
DR-1974	Severe Storm(s)	119	$3,071,909
DR-4427	Severe Storm(s)	45	$2,879,958
DR-4211	Severe Ice Storm	4	$1,628,847
DR-4320	Severe Storm(s)	7	$1,115,342
DR-1331	Severe Storm(s)	12	$717,385
DR-4691	Winter Storm	10	$697,256
DR-3217	Hurricane	3	$443,208
DR-4832	Tropical Storm	3	$253,685

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$1,442,327

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.52

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	5	$1,254,640
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	3	$187,687

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

Karns has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are lightning, earthquake, tornado. The area has had 18 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (8 declarations). 597 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $26,617,614 in public assistance recovery funding. 8 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.