Montgomery County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 11th
Montgomery County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 10.9, 11th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Montgomery County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 10.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 11th 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.
Risk here concentrates in earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Very Low risk — $324K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very Low risk — $87K in expected annual loss and about 0.07 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $1K in expected annual loss and about 0.56 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 10K.
Beyond physical exposure, Montgomery County has a 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.
History supports the rating: Montgomery County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 9 for severe storm events and 6 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Montgomery County ranks #81 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $324K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $87K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.56 / yr | $1K |
| Drought | Low | 14.90 / yr | $101K |
| Hail | Low | 3.23 / yr | $176K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 13.47 / yr | $237K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.38 / yr | $845K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.99 / yr | $35K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.16 / yr | $430K |
| Lightning | Low | 66.69 / yr | $105K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.37 / yr | $278K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $10K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.89 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.05 / 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 |
Disaster History
Montgomery County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (9), Hurricane (6), 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 |
| March 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| October 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Montgomery County?
Montgomery County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 10.9 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 Montgomery County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Very Low, $324K EAL), Hurricane (Very Low, $87K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $1K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Montgomery County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Montgomery County ranks #81 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Montgomery County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Montgomery County since 1973, most often 9 for severe storm events and 6 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. Montgomery County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.