Wayne County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 56th
Wayne County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 55.7, 56th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $13M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wayne County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 55.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 56th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.17 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.82 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 1.11 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $13M in expected annual loss for a population of 20K.
Beyond physical exposure, Wayne County has a very 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.
The federal record bears this out: Wayne County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 16 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, Wayne County ranks #36 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.17 / yr | $5M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.82 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.11 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 76.70 / yr | $248K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $48K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.54 / yr | $1K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 8.42 / yr | $337K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $234K |
| Drought | Low | 10.78 / yr | $123K |
| Hail | Low | 3.19 / yr | $191K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.71 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.72 / yr | $237K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.52 / yr | $22K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.42 / yr | $18K |
| 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
Wayne County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (16), Severe Storm (8), 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 |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura |
| July 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 31 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Wayne County?
Wayne County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 55.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 56th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Wayne County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Medium, $5M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL), Cold Wave (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Wayne County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Wayne County ranks #36 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Wayne County had?
FEMA records 31 federal disaster declarations for Wayne County since 1969, most often 16 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. Wayne County's $13M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.