riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Lawrence County Disaster Risk

Lawrence County, Mississippi

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

25th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#67

of 82 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

28th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 28% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 54% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 56% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 78% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Lawrence County

Risk Verdict

Lawrence County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 25th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Lawrence County, scoring in the 78th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 56th percentile. Additional hazards include wildfire (54th), earthquake (41th), flood (28th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Lawrence County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. 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

Lawrence County is notably safer than the average county in Mississippi. Its composite risk score is 25.9 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Lawrence County, MS?
Lawrence County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 25th 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 Lawrence County?
Lawrence County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (78th percentile), tornado (56th percentile), wildfire (54th percentile), earthquake (41th percentile), flooding (28th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 78th 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 Lawrence County risk compare to the Mississippi average?
Lawrence County's composite risk percentile is 25th, compared to the Mississippi state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Lawrence County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Mississippi.
Is Lawrence County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Lawrence County's hurricane risk is at the 78th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Lawrence County is at the 28th 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 Lawrence County a safe place to live?
Lawrence County's composite risk score of 25th 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 78th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Claiborne County

Mississippi

-0.3

Very Low

25th percentile

Walthall County

Mississippi

+0.5

Very Low

26th percentile

Carroll County

Mississippi

-1.7

Very Low

23th 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.

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