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

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 Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Panola County, Mississippi

Panola faces notable U.S. disaster exposure

Panola's 69.21 composite score earns a Relatively Low rating but indicates above-average natural hazard exposure for American counties. Your county experiences measurable risk from multiple natural disaster sources.

Higher risk than most Mississippi counties

At 69.21, Panola ranks well above Mississippi's 50.94 state average, placing it among the state's most hazard-exposed counties. Your community faces notably elevated natural disaster risk compared to typical Mississippi areas.

Riskiest in its immediate region

Panola (69.21) exceeds all nearby counties including Oktibbeha (62.79), Neshoba (58.27), Newton (52.45), and Perry (19.50). Your county ranks as one of northeastern Mississippi's most disaster-exposed communities.

Earthquake and tornado pose serious threats

Earthquake (90.90) represents your highest single hazard exposure, followed closely by tornado (87.85) and wildfire (63.42) risks. Your county faces a uniquely diverse natural disaster portfolio compared to most Mississippi locations.

Earthquake and storm coverage both essential

Panola's earthquake score of 90.90 makes earthquake insurance a strong priority alongside standard homeowners coverage. Your tornado risk of 87.85 demands robust wind and hail protection; develop a household emergency plan and know your nearest shelter locations.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Panola County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    EarthquakePrepare
    91th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    88th percentile
  3. #3
    HurricanePrepare
    68th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Panola County

Risk Verdict

Panola County ranks at the 69th percentile nationally for natural disaster risk — below the median for U.S. counties. Residents are encouraged to understand which hazards dominate locally and tailor their preparedness accordingly.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is Panola County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 91th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 88th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include hurricane (68th percentile), wildfire (63th percentile), flood (44th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Panola County ranks at the 91th percentile nationally for earthquake risk. Unlike most natural hazards, earthquakes provide no advance warning; preparedness here means structural adjustments and a practiced response, not alert monitoring. Alongside earthquake exposure, Panola County's tornado risk at the 88th percentile nationally reinforces the value of maintaining a household emergency supply cache usable for multiple hazard scenarios. For earthquake preparedness, Panola County's county emergency management office often maintains a list of community water supply points, Red Cross shelter locations, and post-quake assistance programs — useful resources to identify before an event occurs.

Regional Context

Compared to other Mississippi counties, Panola County runs 18.3 composite risk points higher than the state mean — reflecting above-average hazard concentration in this area.

Is your household prepared for Panola 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 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 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.

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