Stone County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 52th
Stone County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 52.0, 52th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $13M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Stone County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 52.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 52nd 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 Medium risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 0.23 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $482K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $447K in expected annual loss and about 84.51 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $13M in expected annual loss for a population of 18K.
Beyond physical exposure, Stone 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: Stone County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 23 for hurricane events and 2 for winter storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Stone County ranks #39 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.23 / yr | $7M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.01 / yr | $482K |
| Lightning | Medium | 84.51 / yr | $447K |
| Drought | Medium | 19.58 / yr | $344K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.44 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 9.74 / yr | $305K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.96 / yr | $291K |
| Hail | Low | 2.36 / yr | $120K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $79K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $252 |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.62 / yr | $21K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.00 / yr | $267K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.21 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.90 / 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
Stone County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (23), Winter Storm (2), Biological (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 |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| 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 30 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Stone County?
Stone County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 52.0 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 52th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Stone County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $7M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $482K EAL), Lightning (Medium, $447K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Stone County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Stone County ranks #39 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Stone County had?
FEMA records 30 federal disaster declarations for Stone County since 1969, most often 23 for hurricane events and 2 for winter 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. Stone County's $13M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.