Amite County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 48th
Amite County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 48.2, 48th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Amite County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 48.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 48th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.15 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.69 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $353K in expected annual loss and about 12.58 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 13K.
Beyond physical exposure, Amite County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: Amite County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 14 for hurricane events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Amite County ranks #47 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.15 / yr | $3M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.69 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 12.58 / yr | $353K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $53K |
| Hail | Low | 2.49 / yr | $209K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.93 / yr | $52K |
| Lightning | Low | 79.52 / yr | $136K |
| Drought | Low | 14.14 / yr | $83K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.29 / yr | $3M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $530 |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.04 / yr | $246K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.00 / yr | $387K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $60K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.68 / yr | $4K |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Amite County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (14), Severe Storm (7), Winter Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| August 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes. |
| October 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura |
| July 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
Showing the 10 most recent of 29 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Amite County?
Amite County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 48.2 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 48th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Amite County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $3M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $353K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Amite County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Amite County ranks #47 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Amite County had?
FEMA records 29 federal disaster declarations for Amite County since 1965, most often 14 for hurricane events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in February 2026.
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. Amite County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.