Yalobusha County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 20th
Yalobusha County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 19.5, 20th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Yalobusha County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 19.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 20th 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 Yalobusha County's expected losses come from lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $543K in expected annual loss and about 65.02 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $676K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $405K in expected annual loss and about 19.37 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 12K.
Beyond physical exposure, Yalobusha County has a 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: Yalobusha County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 6 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, Yalobusha County ranks #72 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Medium | 65.02 / yr | $543K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $676K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 19.37 / yr | $405K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 1.02 / yr | $2K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $83K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.34 / yr | $921K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.05 / yr | $655K |
| Drought | Low | 12.96 / yr | $76K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $19K |
| Hail | Low | 2.96 / yr | $123K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.66 / yr | $18K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.68 / yr | $175K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 4.16 / 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
Yalobusha County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (6), Hurricane (4), Tornado (3).
| 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 |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| August 2008 | Hurricane | Hurricane Gustav |
| August 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Yalobusha County?
Yalobusha County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 19.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 20th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Yalobusha County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Medium, $543K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $676K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $405K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Yalobusha County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Yalobusha County ranks #72 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Yalobusha County had?
FEMA records 20 federal disaster declarations for Yalobusha County since 1971, most often 6 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. Yalobusha County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.