DeSoto County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 89th
DeSoto County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 89.0, 89th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $86M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates DeSoto County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 89.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 89th national percentile and near the national midpoint 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 tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $19M in expected annual loss and about 0.30 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Medium risk — $24M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $8M in expected annual loss and about 21.63 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $86M in expected annual loss for a population of 185K.
Beyond physical exposure, DeSoto County has a low 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). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
History supports the rating: DeSoto County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 5 for severe storm events and 4 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, DeSoto County ranks #4 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | High | 0.30 / yr | $19M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $24M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 21.63 / yr | $8M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.47 / yr | $9M |
| Lightning | High | 62.14 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.29 / yr | $22M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.58 / yr | $12K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.26 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.03 / yr | $276K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $164K |
| Hail | Low | 2.92 / yr | $434K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $80K |
| Drought | Low | 12.28 / yr | $146K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 4.79 / yr | $57K |
| 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
DeSoto County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (5), Hurricane (4), 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 |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| May 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| May 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| April 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for DeSoto County?
DeSoto County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 89.0 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 89th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in DeSoto County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (High, $19M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $24M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $8M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does DeSoto County compare to other Mississippi counties?
DeSoto County ranks #4 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has DeSoto County had?
FEMA records 16 federal disaster declarations for DeSoto County since 1973, most often 5 for severe storm events and 4 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. DeSoto County's $86M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.