Yazoo County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 71th
Yazoo County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 71.2, 71th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $19M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Yazoo County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 71.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 71st 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.
Risk here concentrates in lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 67.57 events per year; cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at High risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.95 events per year; and drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 18.43 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $19M in expected annual loss for a population of 27K.
Beyond physical exposure, Yazoo 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.
History supports the rating: Yazoo County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 13 for severe storm events and 7 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Yazoo County ranks #19 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 67.57 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.95 / yr | $5M |
| Drought | Medium | 18.43 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 1.21 / yr | $4M |
| Hail | Medium | 4.04 / yr | $732K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.43 / yr | $879K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 17.00 / yr | $859K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.51 / yr | $4K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.07 / yr | $393K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.02 / yr | $118K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $340K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 2.58 / yr | $42K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.64 / yr | $4M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $21K |
| 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
Yazoo County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (13), Hurricane (7), Flood (3).
| 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 |
| May 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
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 Yazoo County?
Yazoo County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 71.2 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 71th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Yazoo County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Cold Wave (High, $5M EAL), Drought (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Yazoo County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Yazoo County ranks #19 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Yazoo County had?
FEMA records 31 federal disaster declarations for Yazoo County since 1971, most often 13 for severe storm events and 7 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. Yazoo County's $19M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.