Quitman County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 19th
Quitman County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 18.5, 19th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Quitman County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 18.5 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $473K in expected annual loss and about 11.90 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $712K 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 — $915K in expected annual loss and about 0.24 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 6K.
Beyond physical exposure, Quitman County has a very 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 federal record bears this out: Quitman County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1973, 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, Quitman County ranks #73 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 11.90 / yr | $473K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $712K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.24 / yr | $915K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $77K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 22.42 / yr | $265K |
| Hail | Low | 2.57 / yr | $83K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.11 / yr | $256K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7K |
| Lightning | Low | 63.57 / yr | $52K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.73 / yr | $11K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.56 / yr | $105K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $21 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 4.47 / 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
Quitman County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1973, 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 |
| October 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| May 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Quitman County?
Quitman County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 18.5 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 Quitman County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $473K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $712K EAL), Tornado (Low, $915K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Quitman County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Quitman County ranks #73 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Quitman County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Quitman County since 1973, 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. Quitman County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.