Walthall County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 26th
Walthall County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 25.5, 26th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Walthall County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 25.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 26th 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.
Risk here concentrates in strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 2.50 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.14 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $110K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 14K.
Beyond physical exposure, Walthall County has a 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Walthall County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 13 for hurricane events and 8 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Walthall County ranks #66 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.50 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.14 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $110K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 12.37 / yr | $334K |
| Drought | Low | 13.54 / yr | $133K |
| Hail | Low | 3.22 / yr | $170K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.88 / yr | $39K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.49 / yr | $589K |
| Lightning | Low | 79.82 / yr | $113K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $87K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $281 |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.00 / yr | $320K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $3M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.53 / yr | $14K |
| 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
Walthall County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (13), Severe Storm (8), Winter Storm (2).
| 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 |
| October 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| May 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 29 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Walthall County?
Walthall County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 25.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 26th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Walthall County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (Medium, $1M EAL), Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $110K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Walthall County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Walthall County ranks #66 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Walthall County had?
FEMA records 29 federal disaster declarations for Walthall County since 1969, most often 13 for hurricane events and 8 for severe 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. Walthall County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.