Natural hazards · Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge, TN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Oak Ridge comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2017. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Oak Ridge?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Oak Ridge to be higher than in 50% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and earthquakes.

Inland flooding49%Earthquakes16%Cold waves13%Tornadoes13%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Oak Ridge faces

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

Inland flooding

49% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 60% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

16% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. places

Cold waves

13% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 76% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

13% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightning

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 Oak Ridge flood?

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

4paid claims since 2017

$34Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20172026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Oak Ridge isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Anderson County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

13flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

1flood-prone homes bought out and moved

Disasters that hit Oak Ridge

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Oak RidgeDeclared for Anderson County only

2019

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$14K to the City of Oak Ridge for repairs

2015

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$98K to the City of Oak Ridge for repairs

2014

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

$147K to the City of Oak Ridge for repairs

2011

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and

$27K to the City of Oak Ridge for repairs

2003

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $353 aid approved

2003

Severe Storms and Flooding

$100K to the City of Oak Ridge for repairs

2002

Severe Storms and Tornados

2 households applied for aid $5K aid approved $10K to the City of Oak Ridge for repairs

2002

Severe Storms and Flooding

$33K to the City of Oak Ridge for repairs

2000

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$59K to the City of Oak Ridge for repairs

1998

Severe Winter Storm

$28K to the City of Oak Ridge for repairs

Anderson County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

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. Oak Ridge covers 10 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Oak Ridge’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Oak Ridge. 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 Oak Ridge total about $11.9M 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.

Oak Ridge, TN natural hazards

How exposed is Oak Ridge?

What Oak Ridge faces

Inland flooding

Earthquakes

Cold waves

Tornadoes

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Oak Ridge flood?

What’s been done with FEMA grants

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

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

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Severe Storms and Flooding

Severe Storms and Tornados

Severe Storms and Flooding

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Severe Winter Storm

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

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