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Natural hazard risk in Rankin County, Mississippi

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Moderate (score 84.9 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$60.2 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1969
22[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$20.9 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
108[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Rankin County an overall natural hazard rating of Relatively Moderate[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are hail, tornado and heat wave[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index rates the overall hazard risk for Rankin County Relatively Moderate, compared with other US counties[5]. FEMA estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards at $60.2 million a year[1]. By FEMA's sorted values, the largest parts of that loss come from inland flooding, tornado and hail, in that order[7]. Expected Annual Loss is an estimate of average yearly loss, and FEMA says the index does not predict next year's damage[8]. FEMA rates social vulnerability Relatively Low, which describes how susceptible social groups are to harm from natural hazards[9]. FEMA rates community resilience Relatively High, which describes a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
HailRelatively High$7.7 million[11]
TornadoRelatively High$12.4 million[12]
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$4.5 million[13]
Strong WindRelatively High$2.5 million[14]
LightningRelatively High$1.2 million[15]
Ice StormRelatively High$755,000[16]
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$5.2 million[17]
HurricaneRelatively Low$2.5 million[18]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$2.0 million[19]
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$244,000[20]
Inland FloodingRelatively Moderate$20.8 million[21]
DroughtRelatively Moderate$440,000[22]
LandslideVery Low$2,670[23]
WildfireVery Low$69,000[24]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity[25].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Low28.7[9]
Community resilienceRelatively High70.9[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Moderate for Rankin County, with an Expected Annual Loss of $20.8 million a year[21]. OpenFEMA lists 1,202 residential flood insurance contracts in force as of 2026-08-03[26]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 33.2% of homes are insured[26]. OpenFEMA's NFIP claims data shows 978 claims for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $20.9 million in total[3]. Flood zones apply to specific properties, so use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center to look up an address[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[21] Relatively Moderate, $20.8 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 1,202 of 52,108 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[26] 2,338, of which 777 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 978 filed, $20.9 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[27]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 22 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Rankin County since 1969[2]. Hurricanes account for 10 of them[2]. The most recent listed is DR-4899-MS for a severe winter storm, declared 2026-02-06[28]. NOAA's tornado database records 108 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-12-28[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Rankin County, since 1969
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 10
Severe Storm[2] 6
Winter Storm[2] 2
Severe Ice Storm[2] 1
Snowstorm[2] 1
Tornado[2] 1
Flood[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4899-MS[28] Severe Winter Storm 2026-02-06
EM-3640-MS[28] Severe Winter Storm 2026-01-24
DR-4727-MS[28] Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes. 2023-08-12
DR-4626-MS[28] Hurricane Ida 2021-10-22
EM-3569-MS[28] Hurricane Ida 2021-08-28

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Tornadoes

Before

  • Learn the warning signs: a rotating funnel cloud, an approaching cloud of debris or a loud roar like a freight train.
  • Sign up for community warning systems and learn what your local sirens sound like.
  • Pick a safe spot, such as a safe room built to FEMA criteria or an ICC 500 storm shelter, and practice getting there.
  • Include your pets in the household emergency plan.
  • Keep supplies, food, water and medication in case you have to stay home for a long time.

During

  • Go right away to the safe place you picked in advance.
  • Protect your head and neck with your arms and stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
  • No place in a car is fully safe. If you can get lower than the road, leave the car and lie down there.

Source: Ready.gov, tornadoes

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Questions people ask

Is Rankin County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Moderate for Rankin County compared with other US counties[21]. FEMA estimates inland flooding makes up the largest share of Expected Annual Loss in the county[7].
Is Rankin County at risk of tornadoes?
FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively High compared with other US counties[12]. NOAA's tornado database records 108 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4].
Is Rankin County at risk of earthquakes or wildfire?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively Low[19] and wildfire risk Very Low compared with other US counties[24].
How many disasters have been declared in Rankin County?
OpenFEMA lists 22 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Rankin County since 1969[2].
How do I check my flood zone in Rankin County?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[27].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Rankin County is $60.2 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Moderate, score 86.2). Of this, buildings account for $39.4 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $19.3... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 22 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Rankin County since 1969 (16 major disaster, 6 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 10, severe storm 6, winter storm 2, severe ice storm 1, snowstorm 1, tornado 1, flood 1.... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 978 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Rankin County, 794 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $20.9 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid).... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 108 recorded tornadoes touched Rankin County. The strongest were rated F4 (most recent of them on 1992-11-21). 8 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-12-28. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Rankin County is Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 84.9 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Rankin County are hail (98.2, Relatively High), tornado (94.6, Relatively High), heat wave (92.8, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores;... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Rankin County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($20.8 million a year), tornado ($12.4 million a year), hail ($7.7 million a year), out of $60.2 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Rankin County is Relatively Low (score 28.7). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Rankin County is Relatively High (score 70.9). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 98.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $7.7 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 4.62 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 94.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $12.4 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 1.24 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 92.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.5 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 15 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 91.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.5 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 3.89 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 87.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.2 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 72.43 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 86.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $755,000 a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 1.25 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 84.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $5.2 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.89 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 81.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.5 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.09 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years... FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 81.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.0 million a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.002 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 81.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $244,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 2.53 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 79.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $20.8 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 3.71 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of... FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 65.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $440,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 13.59 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 58.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2,670 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Rankin County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 55.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $69,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0007 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Rankin County: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  26. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 1,202 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Rankin County, out of 52,108 residential structures, a penetration rate of 2.3%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 2,338 residential structures and 777 contracts, a... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  27. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  28. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.