Clay County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 43th
Clay County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 42.5, 43th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Clay County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 42.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 43rd 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 Clay County's expected losses come from earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.38 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $377K in expected annual loss and about 0.07 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 19K.
Beyond physical exposure, Clay 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: Clay County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 14 for severe storm events and 6 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Clay County ranks #52 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.38 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.07 / yr | $377K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.16 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 11.58 / yr | $420K |
| Drought | Low | 14.10 / yr | $209K |
| Lightning | Medium | 66.93 / yr | $220K |
| Hail | Low | 3.52 / yr | $203K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.94 / yr | $63K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.03 / yr | $264K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $133 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.84 / 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
Clay County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (14), Hurricane (6), 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 |
| May 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Clay County?
Clay County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 42.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 43th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Clay County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Low, $1M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL), Hurricane (Low, $377K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Clay County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Clay County ranks #52 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Clay County had?
FEMA records 27 federal disaster declarations for Clay County since 1973, most often 14 for severe storm events and 6 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. Clay County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.