How Likely Is a Tornado in Lewis County, TN?
Lewis County, TN: what NOAA's tornado record says
Lewis County has recorded 15 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 5.1 years - our Moderate band. Put another way: Lewis County sees more tornado activity than 40% of US counties. Within Tennessee alone, Lewis County ranks 52 of 95 counties for tornado frequency.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
10 weak and 5 significant tornadoes make up Lewis County's 15-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Lewis County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Tennessee has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Tennessee this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
Tornado outbreaks routinely knock out power across Tennessee for days, separately from any single house getting hit. A portable battery bank keeps a fridge, phone chargers and a radio running through that gap - cheaper and faster to set up than a generator.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Lewis County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 282 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Lewis County has about 13,418 residents.