Washington County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 83th
Washington County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 83.0, 83th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $30M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Washington County is medium, with a National Risk Index score of 83.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 83rd national percentile and near the national midpoint 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 tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 0.67 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Medium risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 14.88 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $30M in expected annual loss for a population of 45K.
Beyond physical exposure, Washington 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 county's disaster history tells the same story: Washington County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 11 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, Washington County ranks #9 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | High | 0.67 / yr | $6M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $4M |
| Drought | High | 14.88 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Medium | 3.13 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 18.74 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.45 / yr | $902K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.93 / yr | $13M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.87 / yr | $267K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.26 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 63.48 / yr | $364K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.05 / yr | $442K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.18 / yr | $292 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.26 / 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
Washington County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Hurricane (5), Flood (5).
| 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 |
| 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 30 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Washington County?
Washington County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 83.0 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 83th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Washington County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (High, $6M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $4M EAL), Drought (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Washington County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Washington County ranks #9 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Washington County had?
FEMA records 30 federal disaster declarations for Washington County since 1971, most often 11 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. Washington County's $30M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.