Knoxville, TN (ZIP 37938) has a moderate disaster history with 46 recorded events. These include 28 hailstorms, 7 floods, and 3 severe wind events. Total documented property damage amounts to $42.4M. These events have resulted in 9 recorded deaths and 1 injury.
The dominant hazard type for Knoxville is hailstorms, with 28 recorded events making up 61% of the area's disaster history. The most recent recorded hailstorm occurred on Mar 15, 2025.
Knoxville has experienced 7 floods on record. Of these, 3 (43%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for flood-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Flood-related events have caused a combined $42.3M in documented property damage. 1 fatality has been attributed to floods in this area. The most recent recorded flood occurred on Jul 31, 2022.
Knoxville has experienced 3 severe wind events on record. Wind-related events have caused a combined $70K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded severe wind event occurred on Oct 21, 2005.
Knoxville has experienced 2 blizzards on record. One event reached severity level 4 or 5 on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for winter storm events here is 5/5 (extreme). 6 fatalities have been attributed to blizzards in this area. The most recent recorded blizzard occurred on Jan 18, 2024.
Knoxville has experienced 2 earthquakes on record. The most recent recorded earthquake occurred on Jul 11, 1987.
Knoxville has experienced 2 extreme heat events on record. 2 fatalities have been attributed to extreme heat events in this area. The most recent recorded extreme heat event occurred on Jun 28, 1998.
The most significant disaster event on record for Knoxville was Flood on Feb 23, 2019, which caused $32.5M in property damage and was linked to 1 fatality. Another major event was Flood (Feb 14, 2003), causing $8.3M in damages. Flood on Feb 28, 2011 also caused significant damage ($1.5M).
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Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 37938 has experienced 46 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include hailstorms (28 events), floods (7 events), severe wind events (3 events), blizzards (2 events), earthquakes (2 events), extreme heat events (2 events), and tornadoes (2 events). The primary hazard is hailstorms, which account for 61% of all recorded events.
Hailstorms are the most frequently recorded hazard in Knoxville, TN, with 28 events documented.
Yes, Knoxville (ZIP 37938) has 7 recorded flood events. These floods have caused $42.3M in total property damage. The most recent flood on record occurred on Jul 31, 2022.
Knoxville has 2 recorded tornado events in the historical record. The strongest tornado recorded reached severity level 3/5 on the normalized scale. Total property damage from tornadoes in this area is $2.5K. The most recent tornado was recorded on May 23, 2000.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 37938 was Flood, which occurred on Feb 23, 2019. This event caused $32.5M in documented property damage. It resulted in 1 reported fatality. It was rated at severity level 5/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $42.4M in property damage in the Knoxville, TN area (ZIP 37938). This figure is based on historical records from FEMA, NOAA Storm Events Database, and USGS, and covers events from the 1950s through the present. Actual damages may be higher, as not all events have complete damage assessments.
Data sourced from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →