riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Smith County Disaster Risk

Smith County, Mississippi

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

47th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#48

of 82 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

41th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 47% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 71% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 49% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 84% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Smith County

Risk Verdict

Smith County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 47th 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 Smith County, scoring in the 84th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 71th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (49th), wildfire (47th), flood (41th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Smith 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

Smith County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Mississippi. Its composite risk score is within 3.7 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 Smith County, MS?
Smith County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 47th 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 Smith County?
Smith County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (84th percentile), tornado (71th percentile), earthquake (49th percentile), wildfire (47th percentile), flooding (41th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 84th 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 Smith County risk compare to the Mississippi average?
Smith County's composite risk percentile is 47th, compared to the Mississippi state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Smith County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Mississippi.
Is Smith County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Smith County's hurricane risk is at the 84th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Smith County is at the 41th 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 Smith County a safe place to live?
Smith County's composite risk score of 47th 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 84th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Amite County

Mississippi

+1.0

Relatively Low

48th percentile

Lincoln County

Mississippi

+1.2

Relatively Low

48th percentile

Itawamba County

Mississippi

+2.4

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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