Jefferson County
Mississippi — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 11th
Jefferson County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 11.3, 11th national percentile), driven primarily by heat wave and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $3M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Heat Wave | Low | 16.47 / yr | $587K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.10 / yr | $224K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.73 / yr | $2K |
| Drought | Low | 11.19 / yr | $108K |
| Hail | Low | 3.14 / yr | $151K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.93 / yr | $31K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.54 / yr | $451K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $42K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.71 / yr | $178K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.74 / yr | $129K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 73.73 / yr | $39K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.57 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.58 / yr | $2K |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 11.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 11th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jefferson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Heat Wave (Low, $587K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $224K EAL), Landslide (Low, $2K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jefferson County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Jefferson County ranks #80 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
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. Jefferson County's $3M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.