riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Pontotoc County Disaster Risk

Pontotoc County, Mississippi

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

50th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#43

of 82 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

36th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 36% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 45% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 77% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 85% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 65% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Pontotoc County

Risk Verdict

Pontotoc County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 50th 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 Pontotoc County, scoring in the 85th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 77th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (65th), wildfire (45th), flood (36th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Pontotoc 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

Pontotoc County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Mississippi. Its composite risk score is within 0.8 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Mississippi as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Pontotoc County, MS?
Pontotoc County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 50th 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 Pontotoc County?
Pontotoc County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (85th percentile), tornado (77th percentile), hurricane (65th percentile), wildfire (45th percentile), flooding (36th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 85th 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 Pontotoc County risk compare to the Mississippi average?
Pontotoc County's composite risk percentile is 50th, compared to the Mississippi state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Pontotoc County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Mississippi.
Is Pontotoc County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Pontotoc County's earthquake risk is at the 85th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Pontotoc County is at the 36th 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 Pontotoc County a safe place to live?
Pontotoc County's composite risk score of 50th 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 earthquake at the 85th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Holmes County

Mississippi

-0.3

Relatively Low

50th percentile

Itawamba County

Mississippi

-0.5

Relatively Low

50th percentile

Covington County

Mississippi

+0.7

Relatively Low

51th 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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