Lawrence County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 25th
Lawrence County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 25.0, 25th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Lawrence County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 25.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 25th 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 Lawrence 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 0.12 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $364K in expected annual loss and about 4.15 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.62 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 12K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lawrence County has a 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: Lawrence County has received 33 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 13 for hurricane events and 10 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, Lawrence County ranks #67 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.12 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 4.15 / yr | $364K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.62 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $46K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 13.84 / yr | $333K |
| Drought | Low | 11.25 / yr | $103K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.27 / yr | $372K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.28 / yr | $567 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $127K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 1.03 / yr | $39K |
| Lightning | Low | 76.87 / yr | $83K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.00 / yr | $3M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.74 / yr | $14K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.74 / yr | $143K |
| 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
Lawrence County has received 33 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (13), Severe Storm (10), Flood (3).
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 33 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Lawrence County?
Lawrence County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 25.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 25th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lawrence County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Hail (Low, $364K EAL), Tornado (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lawrence County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Lawrence County ranks #67 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Lawrence County had?
FEMA records 33 federal disaster declarations for Lawrence County since 1969, most often 13 for hurricane events and 10 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. Lawrence County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.