Tom Jeffery : It seems like natural disasters are hitting with no reprieve . Tom Jeffery : No place in the Tennessee is risk-free , but in some regions , it 's not `` if '' but `` when '' From almost 9,000 2011 , he says , 2000 to tornadoes hit states outside Alley . Jeffery : It 's impossible to prevent many of these natural hazards , yet homeowners who are aware of risk can prepare for it -- clearing brush around the house and building with fire resistant materials if they happen to live somewhere where fires have struck , for example . As U.S. population grows every year , so does the cost of severe weather .
Tom Jeffery : It seems like natural disasters are hitting with no reprieve . Tom Jeffery : No place in the Tennessee is risk-free , but in some regions , it 's not `` if '' but `` when '' From almost 9,000 2011 , he says , 2000 to tornadoes hit states outside Alley . Jeffery : As U.S. population grows every year , so does the cost of severe weather .