riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Bolivar County Disaster Risk

Bolivar County, Mississippi

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

77th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#16

of 82 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

77th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 77% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 18% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 66% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Bolivar County

Risk Verdict

Bolivar County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 77th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Bolivar County, scoring in the 92th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 83th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (77th), hurricane (66th), wildfire (18th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Bolivar County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as tornado also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Bolivar County is significantly riskier than the average county in Mississippi. Its composite risk score is 25.8 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

Is your home insured against Bolivar County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Bolivar County, MS?
Bolivar County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 77th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Bolivar County?
Bolivar County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (92th percentile), tornado (83th percentile), flooding (77th percentile), hurricane (66th percentile), wildfire (18th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 92th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Bolivar County risk compare to the Mississippi average?
Bolivar County's composite risk percentile is 77th, compared to the Mississippi state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Bolivar County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Mississippi.
Is Bolivar County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Bolivar County's earthquake risk is at the 92th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Bolivar County is at the 77th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Bolivar County higher risk than average?
Bolivar County's composite risk score of 77th percentile is above the Mississippi state average of 51th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (92th percentile), along with tornado and flooding and hurricane risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Forrest County

Mississippi

+1.3

Relatively Low

78th percentile

Leflore County

Mississippi

-3.3

Relatively Low

74th percentile

Jones County

Mississippi

+3.4

Relatively Low

80th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

Explore more data for Bolivar County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score