Clarke County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 36th
Clarke County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 36.0, 36th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Clarke County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 36.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 36th 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 lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $550K in expected annual loss and about 72.62 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $899K in expected annual loss and about 0.14 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.75 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 16K.
Beyond physical exposure, Clarke 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 federal record bears this out: Clarke County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 10 for hurricane events and 8 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Clarke County ranks #60 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Medium | 72.62 / yr | $550K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.14 / yr | $899K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.75 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.79 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Low | 10.78 / yr | $170K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $1K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 10.21 / yr | $348K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $200K |
| Hail | Low | 3.42 / yr | $146K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.79 / yr | $312K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.32 / yr | $3M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.68 / yr | $34K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $12K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 2.32 / yr | $23K |
| 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
Clarke County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (10), Severe Storm (8), Winter Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| October 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| February 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornado |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Clarke County?
Clarke County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 36.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 36th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Clarke County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Medium, $550K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $899K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Clarke County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Clarke County ranks #60 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Clarke County had?
FEMA records 25 federal disaster declarations for Clarke County since 1973, most often 10 for hurricane events and 8 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. Clarke County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.