Bradley County, TN Environment & Hazard Risk

• EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$8.13M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 215 years
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$7.16M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 5 years
• LandslideRelatively Low$25.14K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• LightningRelatively Moderate$806K/yr expected annual loss, about 61 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$3.14M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$138K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.4 events a year
• HailRelatively Low$562K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.8 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$914K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.2 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$169K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• HurricaneVery Low$144K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 44 years
• DroughtRelatively Low$195K/yr expected annual loss, about 26 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$44.5K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,009 years
• Heat waveRelatively Low$346K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.8 events a year

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

211 of 37,954 (0.6%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

445

Insured in high-risk zones

165 (37%)

Flood claims since 1978

203

Claims paid since 1978

$2.23M

• Thunderstorm Wind228
• Hail92
• Heavy Snow26
• Tornado20 · 10 deaths
• Winter Storm17
• Flash Flood16
• Flood15
• Strong Wind8
• Winter Weather2
• High Wind2

• TornadoEF4, 20.4 mi path, 800 yd wide04/28/2011

  Pine Hill, Bradley County

  4 deaths, 200 injured, $23M damage

  What happened

  Ringgold-Apison Tornado. This tornado touched down in north Georgia and tracked northeast into Hamilton County, Tennessee, and then into Bradley County. In Bradley County, the max intensity still caused EF4 damage with the max wind extimated at 170 mph and did extensive damage to many homes and businesses. An additional 4 people were killed by the tornado in Bradley County in the Blue Springs Community. The fatalities included a 42 year old women from Wisconsin visiting her son in the Blue Springs community as well as the 3 month old boy in the same house she was trying to protect. In addition, a 40 year old women died in her home. Also, a 67 year old woman died in her home.

• TornadoF3, 4 mi path, 100 yd wide03/29/1997

  SW of Cleveland, Bradley County

  50 injured, $3.2M damage

  What happened

  In Hamilton county...the tornado first touched down in the Tiftonia community just west of downtown Chattanooga around 1:10 am EDT. As the tornado moved due east across the southern part of the county, 50 homes were completely destroyed. Another 600 homes and one business were heavily damaged. Most of the damage was concentrated in the East Brainerd community. There, about half of the 180-unit Hickory Villa apartment complex was destroyed, and 18 of 23 townhomes of the Hickory Trace complex were destroyed. Two more apartment complexes, Hickory Valley and Ledford Apartments, were severely damaged. Around 20000 homes were without electricity after the storm. Most power had been restored by Monday morning. In Bradley county...the tornado destroyed 5 poultry farms, 4 homes, and 4 mobile homes. Another 45 homes, 16 mobile homes and 3 poultry farms were damaged.

• TornadoEF2, 15.5 mi path, 250 yd wide04/28/2011

  Cecilton, Bradley County

  4 deaths, $500K damage

  What happened

  Cleveland-to-Etowah Tornado. A NWS storm survey reported this tornado formed south of Cleveland. The max wind of 130 mph downed many trees and caused EF2 damage to several homes. Four people died in the hardest-hit area. The fatalities included a 42 year old women as well as a 77 year old man both dying in their homes. In addition, a 34 year old women and a 56 year old women both died in their homes. The tornado continued to the east-northeast then tracked into Polk County.

• Flash Flood05/06/2003

  Countywide, Bradley County

  $13.95M damage

  What happened

  Widespread flooding, road closures, damage, evacuations.

• TornadoEF2, 16.8 mi path, 300 yd wide03/02/2012

  Baugh Spg, Bradley County

  7 injured, $3.84M damage

  What happened

  Harrison Tornado - Segment #2. The Harrison Tornado entered western Bradley County near the saddlepoint along a ridgeline named Mahan Gap. It roughly followed Harrison Pike ENE for about 4 miles, until the highway turned off to the south. The tornado continued into the northern parts of the city of Cleveland and then across the remainder of the county into Polk County. ||The tornado was near its strongest in the first mile or two into Bradley County where it downed vast swaths of trees along the highway. The maximum estimated winds were 130 MPH, making it a high EF2 at its peak. This area was very rugged with no houses near the county line.||Overall there were 46 houses that were damaged, included 5 destroyed, and 11 with major damage, as well as 41 other homes that were affected. Two businesses and three barns were destroyed. Overall monetary damages totaled $3.2 Million damage to homes, $640K to business, and $300K to Utilities, totaling to almost $4 Million. There were 7 injuries; all treated and released.||The last few miles in Bradley County the tornado weakened to EF1 and then to a minimal EF0 as it crossed the Hiwassee River into Polk County.||Note: this tornado...

• TornadoF1, 11.5 mi path, 50 yd wide04/17/1998

  Cleveland, Bradley County

  1 death, $750K damage

  What happened

  The woman was killed when she was making her way into the basement in her home to take shelter from the approaching tornado. High winds caused the house to shift on its foundation, crushing her. Two homes were completely destroyed. Damage occurred to 33 homes, 10 barns, 2 mobile homes and a church.

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind07/10/2026

  East Cleveland, Bradley County

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind06/23/2026

  Cleveland Arpt, Bradley County

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind06/14/2026

  Waterville, Bradley County

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind03/16/2026

  South Cleveland, Bradley County

• Winter Weather01/31/2026

  Bradley

• Thunderstorm Wind60 kt wind06/07/2025

  Cleveland, Bradley County

  $50K damage

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind06/07/2025

  Union Grove, Bradley County

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind06/06/2025

  Waterville, Bradley County

• Unnamed storm (1932)10/07/1932Tropical storm40 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1915)08/31/1915 · Landfall: FL · 982 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby

• Cleveland UtilitiesServes 95,087 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
• Ocoee Utility DistrictServes 21,082 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Hiwassee Utility CommissionServes 25 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations