Hinds County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 94th
Hinds County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.3, 94th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $117M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Hinds County is medium, with a National Risk Index score of 94.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 94th 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 hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Very High risk — $13M in expected annual loss and about 4.16 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $19M in expected annual loss and about 1.21 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Very High risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 3.56 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $117M in expected annual loss for a population of 228K.
Beyond physical exposure, Hinds County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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: Hinds County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 10 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, Hinds County ranks #2 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | Very High | 4.16 / yr | $13M |
| Tornado | High | 1.21 / yr | $19M |
| Strong Wind | Very High | 3.56 / yr | $4M |
| Heat Wave | High | 15.63 / yr | $7M |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.27 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 4.46 / yr | $56M |
| Lightning | High | 71.29 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | High | 2.47 / yr | $358K |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $5M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.89 / yr | $5M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.09 / yr | $3M |
| Drought | Medium | 14.07 / yr | $719K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.46 / yr | $10K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $46K |
| 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
Hinds County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (10), Severe Storm (8), 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 |
| August 2022 | Other | Water Crisis |
| 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 |
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 Hinds County?
Hinds County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.3 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 94th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Hinds County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Very High, $13M EAL), Tornado (High, $19M EAL), Strong Wind (Very High, $4M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Hinds County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Hinds County ranks #2 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Hinds County had?
FEMA records 27 federal disaster declarations for Hinds County since 1969, most often 10 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. Hinds County's $117M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.