Perry County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 19th
Perry County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 19.5, 19th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Perry County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 19.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 19th 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 Perry County's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.21 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $147K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Low risk — $840K in expected annual loss and about 0.73 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $6M in expected annual loss for a population of 11K.
Beyond physical exposure, Perry 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: Perry County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 16 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, Perry County ranks #71 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.21 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $147K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.73 / yr | $840K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 9.26 / yr | $186K |
| Lightning | Low | 81.56 / yr | $115K |
| Drought | Low | 16.83 / yr | $39K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.33 / yr | $401 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $80K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.00 / yr | $99K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.48 / yr | $187K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.93 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.62 / yr | $17K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.11 / yr | $140K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.26 / yr | $10K |
| 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
Perry County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (16), Severe Storm (6), Tornado (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 32 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Perry County?
Perry County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 19.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 19th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Perry County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $147K EAL), Tornado (Low, $840K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Perry County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Perry County ranks #71 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Perry County had?
FEMA records 32 federal disaster declarations for Perry County since 1969, most often 16 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. Perry County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.