Holmes County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 50th
Holmes County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 49.8, 50th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Holmes County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 49.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 50th 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 drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $671K in expected annual loss and about 15.28 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.86 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $350K in expected annual loss and about 3.51 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 17K.
Beyond physical exposure, Holmes County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Holmes County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 15 for severe storm events and 7 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Holmes County ranks #44 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 15.28 / yr | $671K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.86 / yr | $3M |
| Hail | Low | 3.51 / yr | $350K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.94 / yr | $577K |
| Lightning | Medium | 66.97 / yr | $293K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.05 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 16.53 / yr | $505K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $436K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.07 / yr | $238K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.63 / yr | $2K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 1.08 / yr | $70K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $41K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 3.16 / yr | $32K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.79 / yr | $2M |
| 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
Holmes County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (15), Hurricane (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 |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 30 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Holmes County?
Holmes County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 49.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 50th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Holmes County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $671K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $3M EAL), Hail (Low, $350K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Holmes County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Holmes County ranks #44 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Holmes County had?
FEMA records 30 federal disaster declarations for Holmes County since 1971, most often 15 for severe storm events and 7 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. Holmes County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.