Covington County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 51th
Covington County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 50.8, 51th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Covington County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 50.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 51st 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 hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.15 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $352K in expected annual loss and about 4.25 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $553K in expected annual loss and about 12.26 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 18K.
Beyond physical exposure, Covington 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: Covington County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 15 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, Covington County ranks #42 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.15 / yr | $3M |
| Hail | Low | 4.25 / yr | $352K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 12.26 / yr | $553K |
| Drought | Medium | 12.71 / yr | $257K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.56 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.36 / yr | $430K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $40K |
| Lightning | Low | 76.22 / yr | $135K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $127K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.74 / yr | $477K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.22 / yr | $539 |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.25 / yr | $3M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.82 / yr | $34K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.68 / yr | $20K |
| 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
Covington County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (15), Severe Storm (8), 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 |
| 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 |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura |
| July 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 32 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Covington County?
Covington County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 50.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 51th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Covington County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $3M EAL), Hail (Low, $352K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $553K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Covington County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Covington County ranks #42 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Covington County had?
FEMA records 32 federal disaster declarations for Covington County since 1969, most often 15 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. Covington County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.