Lamar County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 65th
Lamar County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 65.0, 65th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $22M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Lamar County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 65.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 65th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 0.18 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $422K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 12.11 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $22M in expected annual loss for a population of 64K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lamar County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
History supports the rating: Lamar County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 16 for hurricane events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (severe storm), declared in June 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Lamar County ranks #25 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.18 / yr | $6M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $422K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 12.11 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 81.31 / yr | $626K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.62 / yr | $3M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.71 / yr | $715K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.54 / yr | $9M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.92 / yr | $125K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.28 / yr | $3K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.63 / yr | $68K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $306K |
| Hail | Low | 3.45 / yr | $276K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.74 / yr | $729K |
| Drought | Low | 14.00 / yr | $43K |
| 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
Lamar County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (16), Severe Storm (4), Winter Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| February 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| October 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
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 Lamar County?
Lamar County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 65.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 65th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lamar County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $6M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $422K EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lamar County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Lamar County ranks #25 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Lamar County had?
FEMA records 27 federal disaster declarations for Lamar County since 1969, most often 16 for hurricane events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared in June 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. Lamar County's $22M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.