Hancock County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 83th
Hancock County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 82.7, 83th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $38M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hancock County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 82.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 83rd 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.
Most of Hancock County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $18M in expected annual loss and about 0.22 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1000K in expected annual loss and about 85.95 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $38M in expected annual loss for a population of 46K.
Beyond physical exposure, Hancock County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Hancock County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including 21 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Hancock County ranks #10 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.22 / yr | $18M |
| Lightning | High | 85.95 / yr | $1000K |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 6.08 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 13.90 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.49 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.71 / yr | $9M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.00 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Low | 20.74 / yr | $168K |
| Hail | Low | 1.77 / yr | $251K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $157K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.46 / yr | $36K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.47 / yr | $274K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.84 / yr | $29K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $69 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Hancock County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (21), Severe Storm (5), Winter Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| June 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| October 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura |
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 Hancock County?
Hancock County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 82.7 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 83th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Hancock County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $18M EAL), Lightning (High, $1000K EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Hancock County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Hancock County ranks #10 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Hancock County had?
FEMA records 32 federal disaster declarations for Hancock County since 1974, most often 21 for hurricane events and 5 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. Hancock County's $38M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.