riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Clarke County Disaster Risk

Clarke County, Mississippi

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

36th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#60

of 82 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

37th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 37% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 31% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 66% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 48% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 76% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Clarke County, Mississippi

Clarke County Below National Risk Level

Clarke County's composite score of 36.04 earns a Very Low rating, sitting comfortably below the national average. This east-central Mississippi county presents a relatively benign natural hazard environment compared to typical American counties.

Lower Risk Than Most Mississippi

Clarke County ranks in the lower half of Mississippi's 82 counties for overall disaster risk, with a score 29% below the state average of 50.94. The county's positioning reflects safer-than-average exposure to most major hazard types.

More Dangerous Than Western Neighbors

Clarke County's 36.04 score exceeds nearby Claiborne County (24.75) but remains lower than Chickasaw County (43.92). To the north, Clay County (42.53) presents similar risk, while the county benefits from lower exposure than distant Coahoma County (62.50).

Hurricanes and Tornadoes Lead Threats

Clarke County faces elevated hurricane risk at 76.01 and tornado risk at 66.00, the county's two dominant hazards. Flood risk at 36.74 remains notable, while earthquake (48.41) and wildfire (31.23) exposures pose secondary concerns.

Bundle Storm and Flood Protection

Residents should maintain comprehensive homeowners insurance with particular attention to hurricane and tornado coverage. For properties in flood-prone areas, separate flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program provides critical protection not included in standard policies.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Clarke County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    76th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    66th percentile
  3. #3
    EarthquakePrepare
    48th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Clarke County

Risk Verdict

At the 36th percentile nationally, Clarke County experiences relatively limited natural hazard pressure compared to most of the country. Residents of Clarke County can use the 36th percentile ranking as a baseline, while recognizing that individual properties may still lie in specific hazard zones that differ from the county average.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is Clarke County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 76th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 66th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (48th percentile), flood (37th percentile), wildfire (31th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Clarke County ranks at the 76th percentile nationally for hurricane risk. For coastal counties, wind-resistant shutters or impact-rated windows represent the highest single structural investment for reducing property damage. Tornado, the county's second-ranked hazard at the 66th percentile nationally, represents an additional preparedness consideration for Clarke County independent of hurricane season. For extended post-storm outages common in Clarke County's hurricane zone, a portable generator (operated outdoors only) and a supply of non-perishable food for at least seven days provides meaningful household resilience.

Regional Context

A composite score 14.9 points below the Mississippi state average puts Clarke County in a better-than-typical position relative to neighboring counties.

Is your household prepared for Clarke County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Clarke County, MS?
Clarke County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 36th 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 Clarke County?
Clarke County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (76th percentile), tornado (66th percentile), earthquake (48th percentile), flooding (37th percentile), wildfire (31th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 76th 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 Clarke County risk compare to the Mississippi average?
Clarke County's composite risk percentile is 36th, compared to the Mississippi state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Clarke County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Mississippi.
Is Clarke County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Clarke County's hurricane risk is at the 76th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Clarke County is at the 37th 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.
Is Clarke County a safe place to live?
Clarke County's composite risk score of 36th 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 76th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Tunica County

Mississippi

+0.2

Very Low

36th percentile

Tishomingo County

Mississippi

+1.0

Very Low

37th percentile

Attala County

Mississippi

-1.9

Very Low

34th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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 Clarke County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score