riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Simpson County Disaster Risk

Simpson County, Mississippi

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

51th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#41

of 82 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

52th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 52% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 48% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 77% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 44% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 81% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Simpson County

Risk Verdict

Simpson County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 51th 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

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Simpson County, scoring in the 81th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 77th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (52th), wildfire (48th), earthquake (44th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Simpson 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

Simpson County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Mississippi. Its composite risk score is within 0 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 Simpson County, MS?
Simpson County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 51th 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 Simpson County?
Simpson County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (81th percentile), tornado (77th percentile), flooding (52th percentile), wildfire (48th percentile), earthquake (44th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 81th 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 Simpson County risk compare to the Mississippi average?
Simpson County's composite risk percentile is 51th, compared to the Mississippi state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Simpson County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Mississippi.
Is Simpson County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Simpson County's hurricane risk is at the 81th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Simpson County is at the 52th 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 Simpson County higher risk than average?
Simpson County's composite risk score of 51th percentile is above the Mississippi state average of 51th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by hurricane exposure (81th percentile), along with tornado and flooding 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

Covington County

Mississippi

-0.1

Relatively Low

51th percentile

Prentiss County

Mississippi

+0.6

Relatively Low

52th percentile

Pontotoc County

Mississippi

-0.9

Relatively Low

50th 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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