Leflore County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 74th
Leflore County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 73.5, 74th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $20M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Leflore County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 73.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 74th 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.
Risk here concentrates in drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $951K in expected annual loss and about 14.41 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 0.51 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $20M in expected annual loss for a population of 28K.
Beyond physical exposure, Leflore County has a very high 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). 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: Leflore County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 11 for severe storm events and 4 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Leflore County ranks #17 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 14.41 / yr | $951K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.51 / yr | $4M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Medium | 2.90 / yr | $605K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 17.42 / yr | $919K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.24 / yr | $701K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.21 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $436K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.21 / yr | $8M |
| Lightning | Medium | 65.19 / yr | $259K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.89 / yr | $104K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $137 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.32 / yr | $8K |
| 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
Leflore County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Hurricane (4), Winter Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| October 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| March 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Leflore County?
Leflore County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 73.5 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 74th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Leflore County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $951K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $4M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Leflore County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Leflore County ranks #17 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Leflore County had?
FEMA records 25 federal disaster declarations for Leflore County since 1971, most often 11 for severe storm events and 4 for hurricane 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. Leflore County's $20M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.