Natural hazards · Bristol

Bristol, TN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Bristol comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 16 claims here since 1979. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Bristol?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Bristol to be higher than in 14% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding69%Earthquakes12%Strong wind6%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Bristol faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

69% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 32% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

12% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Strong wind

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Bristol flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bristol, from FEMA’s records.

16paid claims since 1979

$117Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19792026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 10% off flood insurance. Bristol is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Sullivan County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

2flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Bristol

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Bristol itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Bristol.

Brought FEMA money into BristolDeclared for Sullivan County only

2024

Tropical Storm Helene

$253K to the City of Bristol for repairs

2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding

1 household applied for aid $307K to the City of Bristol for repairs

Sullivan County has had 9 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and winter storms.

Around Bristol

Bristol and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Blountvillemostly inland floodingModerate

Bluff Citymostly inland floodingVery low

Bristolmostly inland floodingVery low

Walnut Hillmostly inland floodingVery low

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Bristol covers 8 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Bristol’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Bristol. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Bristol total about $4.5M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.