Pearl River County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 86th
Pearl River County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 86.1, 86th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $44M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Pearl River County is medium, with a National Risk Index score of 86.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 86th national percentile and near the national midpoint 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 hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $23M in expected annual loss and about 0.20 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 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 13.29 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $44M in expected annual loss for a population of 56K.
Beyond physical exposure, Pearl River 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Pearl River County has received 36 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 22 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Pearl River County ranks #7 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.20 / yr | $23M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 13.29 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.91 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | Medium | 84.34 / yr | $580K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.01 / yr | $799K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.71 / yr | $11M |
| Hail | Low | 2.53 / yr | $358K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.95 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Medium | 17.69 / yr | $297K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.76 / yr | $78K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $874 |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.21 / yr | $43K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $168K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $4K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Pearl River County has received 36 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (22), Severe Storm (6), Winter Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| 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 36 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Pearl River County?
Pearl River County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 86.1 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 86th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Pearl River County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $23M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Pearl River County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Pearl River County ranks #7 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Pearl River County had?
FEMA records 36 federal disaster declarations for Pearl River County since 1965, most often 22 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm 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. Pearl River County's $44M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.