Calhoun County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 28th
Calhoun County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 27.7, 28th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Calhoun County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 27.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 28th 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.
Risk here concentrates in earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $913K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $520K in expected annual loss and about 13.38 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $564K in expected annual loss and about 17.32 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 13K.
Beyond physical exposure, Calhoun County has a 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: Calhoun County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 11 for severe storm events and 5 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Calhoun County ranks #65 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $913K |
| Drought | Medium | 13.38 / yr | $520K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 17.32 / yr | $564K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $220K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.63 / yr | $1K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.05 / yr | $759K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.46 / yr | $873K |
| Lightning | Low | 65.45 / yr | $156K |
| Hail | Low | 3.23 / yr | $168K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.92 / yr | $37K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.81 / yr | $216K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.82 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.95 / 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
Calhoun County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Hurricane (5), Winter Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| October 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| May 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Calhoun County?
Calhoun County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 27.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 28th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Calhoun County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Low, $913K EAL), Drought (Medium, $520K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $564K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Calhoun County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Calhoun County ranks #65 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Calhoun County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Calhoun County since 1973, most often 11 for severe storm events and 5 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. Calhoun County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.