Jasper County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 39th
Jasper County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 38.9, 39th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Jasper County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 38.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 39th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Jasper County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.13 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $389K in expected annual loss and about 4.12 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.89 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $8M in expected annual loss for a population of 16K.
Beyond physical exposure, Jasper County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a 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 federal record bears this out: Jasper County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 11 for hurricane events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Jasper County ranks #57 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.13 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 4.12 / yr | $389K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.89 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.79 / yr | $871K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 10.42 / yr | $344K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.36 / yr | $1K |
| Lightning | Medium | 73.70 / yr | $189K |
| Drought | Low | 14.74 / yr | $112K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $190K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.33 / yr | $335K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $24K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.79 / yr | $43K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 2.32 / yr | $24K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.04 / 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
Jasper County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (11), Severe Storm (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, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| December 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
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 Jasper County?
Jasper County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 38.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 39th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jasper County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Hail (Low, $389K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jasper County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Jasper County ranks #57 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Jasper County had?
FEMA records 27 federal disaster declarations for Jasper County since 1969, most often 11 for hurricane events and 7 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. Jasper County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.