Copiah County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 61th
Copiah County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 61.3, 61th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $15M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Copiah County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 61.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 61st national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at High risk — $983K in expected annual loss and about 0.67 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 1.09 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $941K in expected annual loss and about 4.15 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $15M in expected annual loss for a population of 28K.
Beyond physical exposure, Copiah County has a very 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.
History supports the rating: Copiah County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 11 for hurricane events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Copiah County ranks #29 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | High | 0.67 / yr | $983K |
| Tornado | Medium | 1.09 / yr | $5M |
| Hail | Medium | 4.15 / yr | $941K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 15.21 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.11 / yr | $971K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.49 / yr | $701K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.12 / yr | $131K |
| Lightning | Medium | 74.42 / yr | $257K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $256K |
| Drought | Low | 11.57 / yr | $131K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $30K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.84 / yr | $588K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.04 / yr | $4M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.32 / yr | $8K |
| 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
Copiah County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (11), Severe Storm (7), Winter Storm (2).
| 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 |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Copiah County?
Copiah County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 61.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 61th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Copiah County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (High, $983K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $5M EAL), Hail (Medium, $941K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Copiah County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Copiah County ranks #29 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Copiah County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Copiah County since 1969, most often 11 for hurricane events and 7 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. Copiah County's $15M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.