Wilkinson County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 33th
Wilkinson County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 33.5, 33th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Wilkinson County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 33.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 33rd 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.
Most of Wilkinson County's expected losses come from lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $492K in expected annual loss and about 78.93 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 landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $4K in expected annual loss and about 0.80 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $6M in expected annual loss for a population of 9K.
Beyond physical exposure, Wilkinson 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: Wilkinson County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 13 for hurricane events and 9 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (severe storm), declared in June 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Wilkinson County ranks #62 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 78.93 / yr | $492K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.14 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.80 / yr | $4K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.71 / yr | $567K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 12.84 / yr | $246K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.58 / yr | $691K |
| Drought | Low | 17.67 / yr | $70K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.00 / yr | $466K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 1.01 / yr | $37K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $13K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.36 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $36K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.12 / yr | $51K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.68 / yr | $2K |
| 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
Wilkinson County has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (13), Severe Storm (9), Flood (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 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, Flooding, and Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 32 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Wilkinson County?
Wilkinson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 33.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 33th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Wilkinson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $492K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Landslide (Low, $4K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Wilkinson County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Wilkinson County ranks #62 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Wilkinson County had?
FEMA records 32 federal disaster declarations for Wilkinson County since 1965, most often 13 for hurricane events and 9 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared in June 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. Wilkinson County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.