Bolivar County
Mississippi — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 77th
Bolivar County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 76.8, 77th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $22M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $5M |
| Drought | Medium | 13.03 / yr | $942K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 18.26 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.61 / yr | $3M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.84 / yr | $213K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.71 / yr | $10M |
| Hail | Low | 2.73 / yr | $319K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.03 / yr | $254K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.96 / yr | $497K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.26 / yr | $742K |
| Lightning | Low | 62.59 / yr | $169K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.23 / yr | $273 |
| Winter Weather | Low | 3.26 / yr | $15K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bolivar County?
Bolivar County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 76.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 77th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Bolivar County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Medium, $5M EAL), Drought (Medium, $942K EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Bolivar County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Bolivar County ranks #16 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low 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. Bolivar County's $22M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.