Attala County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 34th
Attala County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 34.2, 34th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Attala County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 34.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 34th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Attala County's expected losses come from tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.87 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $569K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $387K in expected annual loss and about 3.71 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $8M in expected annual loss for a population of 18K.
Beyond physical exposure, Attala County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Attala County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 8 for severe storm events and 7 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Attala County ranks #61 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | Medium | 0.87 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $569K |
| Hail | Low | 3.71 / yr | $387K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.08 / yr | $368K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.71 / yr | $2K |
| Drought | Low | 14.51 / yr | $213K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 12.89 / yr | $429K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.04 / yr | $524K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.11 / yr | $771K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.99 / yr | $68K |
| Lightning | Low | 68.84 / yr | $157K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $30K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 2.84 / yr | $31K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.93 / yr | $2M |
| 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
Attala County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (8), Hurricane (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 |
| May 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| August 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaac |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Attala County?
Attala County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 34.2 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 34th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Attala County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $569K EAL), Hail (Low, $387K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Attala County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Attala County ranks #61 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Attala County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Attala County since 1977, most often 8 for severe storm events and 7 for hurricane 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. Attala County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.