Pike County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 70th
Pike County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 70.4, 70th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $18M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Pike County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 70.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 70th 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 tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 0.44 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.15 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $505K in expected annual loss and about 79.53 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $18M in expected annual loss for a population of 40K.
Beyond physical exposure, Pike 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: Pike County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 16 for hurricane events and 8 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Pike County ranks #20 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | Medium | 0.44 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.15 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | High | 79.53 / yr | $505K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 12.37 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Medium | 2.85 / yr | $537K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.31 / yr | $692K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $119K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.46 / yr | $7M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.87 / yr | $100K |
| Drought | Low | 13.30 / yr | $133K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $191K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $426 |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.00 / yr | $354K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.68 / 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
Pike County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (16), Severe Storm (8), 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 |
| 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 |
| July 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 34 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Pike County?
Pike County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 70.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 70th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Pike County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Medium, $4M EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $3M EAL), Lightning (High, $505K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Pike County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Pike County ranks #20 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Pike County had?
FEMA records 34 federal disaster declarations for Pike County since 1965, most often 16 for hurricane events and 8 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. Pike County's $18M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.