Simpson County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 51th
Simpson County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 51.0, 51th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $12M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Simpson County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 51.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 51st 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 hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.11 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $597K in expected annual loss and about 4.75 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.92 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $12M in expected annual loss for a population of 26K.
Beyond physical exposure, Simpson 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.
History supports the rating: Simpson County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 12 for severe storm events and 9 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Simpson County ranks #41 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.11 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Medium | 4.75 / yr | $597K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.92 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 13.89 / yr | $724K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.49 / yr | $2K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.94 / yr | $588K |
| Drought | Low | 10.07 / yr | $181K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 1.08 / yr | $82K |
| Lightning | Low | 75.04 / yr | $211K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.00 / yr | $5M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $32K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.79 / yr | $587K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $146K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 2.16 / yr | $36K |
| 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
Simpson County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (12), Hurricane (9), Winter Storm (2).
| 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 |
| May 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| July 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 30 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Simpson County?
Simpson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 51.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 51th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Simpson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $2M EAL), Hail (Medium, $597K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Simpson County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Simpson County ranks #41 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Simpson County had?
FEMA records 30 federal disaster declarations for Simpson County since 1969, most often 12 for severe storm events and 9 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. Simpson County's $12M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.