Claiborne County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 25th
Claiborne County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 24.7, 25th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Claiborne County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 24.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 25th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $394K in expected annual loss and about 3.83 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $4K in expected annual loss and about 0.60 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $320K in expected annual loss and about 0.09 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 9K.
Beyond physical exposure, Claiborne County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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 federal record bears this out: Claiborne County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 10 for severe storm events and 9 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Claiborne County ranks #68 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | Low | 3.83 / yr | $394K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.60 / yr | $4K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.09 / yr | $320K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.57 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Medium | 15.78 / yr | $247K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 16.79 / yr | $393K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.99 / yr | $55K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.33 / yr | $280K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $93K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $9K |
| Lightning | Low | 71.21 / yr | $67K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.64 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.84 / yr | $170K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.53 / 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 |
Disaster History
Claiborne County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Hurricane (9), Flood (3).
| 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 |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| July 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 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 Claiborne County?
Claiborne County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 24.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 25th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Claiborne County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Low, $394K EAL), Landslide (Low, $4K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $320K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Claiborne County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Claiborne County ranks #68 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Claiborne County had?
FEMA records 29 federal disaster declarations for Claiborne County since 1965, most often 10 for severe storm events and 9 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. Claiborne County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.