Choctaw County Disaster Risk

Choctaw County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 12th 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.

Choctaw County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (59th percentile), earthquake (50th percentile), tornado (49th percentile), wildfire (23th percentile), flooding (10th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 59th 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.

Choctaw County's composite risk percentile is 12th, compared to the Mississippi state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Choctaw County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Mississippi.

Yes, Choctaw County's hurricane risk is at the 59th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Choctaw County is at the 10th percentile.

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.

Choctaw County's composite risk score of 12th percentile is below the Mississippi state average of 51th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 59th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.