riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Panola County Disaster Risk

Panola County, Mississippi

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

69th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#22

of 82 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

44th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 44% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 63% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 88% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 91% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 68% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Panola County

Risk Verdict

Panola County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 69th 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 Panola County, scoring in the 91th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 88th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (68th), wildfire (63th), flood (44th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Panola 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

Panola County is significantly riskier than the average county in Mississippi. Its composite risk score is 18.3 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Panola County, MS?
Panola County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 69th 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 Panola County?
Panola County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (91th percentile), tornado (88th percentile), hurricane (68th percentile), wildfire (63th percentile), flooding (44th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 91th 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 Panola County risk compare to the Mississippi average?
Panola County's composite risk percentile is 69th, compared to the Mississippi state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Panola County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Mississippi.
Is Panola County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Panola County's earthquake risk is at the 91th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Panola County is at the 44th 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 Panola County higher risk than average?
Panola County's composite risk score of 69th percentile is above the Mississippi state average of 51th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (91th percentile), along with tornado and hurricane and wildfire 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

Sunflower County

Mississippi

+0.4

Relatively Low

70th percentile

Monroe County

Mississippi

-0.7

Relatively Low

69th percentile

Pike County

Mississippi

+1.2

Relatively Low

70th 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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