Sharkey County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 16th
Sharkey County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 15.8, 16th national percentile), driven primarily by drought 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
Sharkey County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 15.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 16th 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 Sharkey County's expected losses come from drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 17.99 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $193K in expected annual loss and about 0.06 events per year; and ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Low risk — $53K in expected annual loss and about 1.11 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 4K.
Beyond physical exposure, Sharkey 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 federal record bears this out: Sharkey County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 10 for severe storm events and 5 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Sharkey County ranks #75 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 17.99 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $193K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 1.11 / yr | $53K |
| Hail | Low | 3.78 / yr | $154K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.49 / yr | $663K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $128K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 19.00 / yr | $138K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.05 / yr | $300K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.25 / yr | $175K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 65.34 / yr | $49K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.05 / yr | $7K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.64 / yr | $958K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $25 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $492 |
| 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
Sharkey County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Hurricane (5), Flood (3).
| 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 |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 26 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Sharkey County?
Sharkey County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 15.8 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 16th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Sharkey County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $1M EAL), Hurricane (Low, $193K EAL), Ice Storm (Low, $53K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Sharkey County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Sharkey County ranks #75 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Sharkey County had?
FEMA records 26 federal disaster declarations for Sharkey County since 1971, most often 10 for severe storm events and 5 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. Sharkey County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.