Tallahatchie County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 40th
Tallahatchie County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 40.1, 40th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Tallahatchie County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 40.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 40th 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 — $794K in expected annual loss and about 13.43 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $774K in expected annual loss and about 1.81 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $8M in expected annual loss for a population of 13K.
Beyond physical exposure, Tallahatchie County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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: Tallahatchie County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 12 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, Tallahatchie County ranks #55 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 13.43 / yr | $794K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.81 / yr | $774K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 22.26 / yr | $533K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.45 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.05 / yr | $211K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.11 / yr | $603K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.38 / yr | $779 |
| Lightning | Low | 64.22 / yr | $127K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $19K |
| Hail | Low | 2.76 / yr | $107K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.72 / yr | $22K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.57 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 4.32 / yr | $3K |
| 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
Tallahatchie County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (12), 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 27 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Tallahatchie County?
Tallahatchie County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 40.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 40th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Tallahatchie County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $794K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $1M EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $774K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Tallahatchie County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Tallahatchie County ranks #55 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Tallahatchie County had?
FEMA records 27 federal disaster declarations for Tallahatchie County since 1971, most often 12 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. Tallahatchie County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.