Mississippi County

Arkansas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Medium

Composite Risk Score

89.2

National percentile: 89th

Mississippi County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 89.2, 89th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $52M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $52M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 41K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Drought
High $4M/yr
Earthquake
Medium $32M/yr
Ice Storm
Very High $1M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Drought High 12.88 / yr $4M
Earthquake Medium 0.01 / yr $32M
Ice Storm Very High 1.35 / yr $1M
Lightning High 58.12 / yr $1M
Heat Wave Medium 20.00 / yr $3M
Winter Weather Medium 7.00 / yr $149K
Tornado Medium 0.74 / yr $2M
Cold Wave Medium 2.37 / yr $1M
Riverine Flood Low 1.21 / yr $7M
Hail Low 3.20 / yr $204K
Hurricane Very Low 0.01 / yr $65K
Strong Wind Low 1.74 / yr $282K
Landslide Very Low 0.74 / yr $408
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $3K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Mississippi County?

Mississippi County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 89.2 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 89th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Mississippi County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $4M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $32M EAL), Ice Storm (Very High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Mississippi County compare to other Arkansas counties?

Mississippi County ranks #5 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Mississippi County's $52M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.