Jackson County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 92th
Jackson County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 92.3, 92th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $111M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Jackson County carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 92.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 92nd 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 Jackson County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $62M in expected annual loss and about 0.28 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 86.80 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $111M in expected annual loss for a population of 143K.
Beyond physical exposure, Jackson County has a medium 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). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The federal record bears this out: Jackson County has received 36 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 24 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Jackson County ranks #3 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.28 / yr | $62M |
| Lightning | High | 86.80 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 13.53 / yr | $3M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.73 / yr | $7M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.96 / yr | $27M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 5.09 / yr | $3M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.95 / yr | $3M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.68 / yr | $170K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 0.84 / yr | $87K |
| Hail | Low | 1.65 / yr | $360K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $376K |
| Drought | Low | 17.87 / yr | $151K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.42 / yr | $536K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $395 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Jackson County has received 36 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (24), Severe Storm (6), 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 |
| 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 36 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Jackson County?
Jackson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 92.3 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 92th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jackson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $62M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jackson County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Jackson County ranks #3 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Jackson County had?
FEMA records 36 federal disaster declarations for Jackson County since 1965, most often 24 for hurricane events and 6 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. Jackson County's $111M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.