riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Winston County Disaster Risk

Winston County, Mississippi

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

40th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#56

of 82 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

22th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 22% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 36% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 79% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 68% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 73% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Winston County

Risk Verdict

Winston County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 40th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado risk is the dominant hazard for Winston County, scoring in the 79th percentile nationally. It is followed by hurricane risk at the 73th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (68th), wildfire (36th), flood (22th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Winston County residents should identify a safe room or interior space on the lowest floor, have a NOAA weather radio, and practice tornado drills with your household. Secondary risks such as hurricane 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

Winston County is notably safer than the average county in Mississippi. Its composite risk score is 11.1 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Winston County, MS?
Winston County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 40th 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 Winston County?
Winston County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (79th percentile), hurricane (73th percentile), earthquake (68th percentile), wildfire (36th percentile), flooding (22th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 79th 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 Winston County risk compare to the Mississippi average?
Winston County's composite risk percentile is 40th, compared to the Mississippi state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Winston County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Mississippi.
Is Winston County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Winston County's tornado risk is at the 79th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Winston County is at the 22th 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 Winston County a safe place to live?
Winston County's composite risk score of 40th 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 tornado at the 79th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Tallahatchie County

Mississippi

+0.2

Very Low

40th percentile

Jasper County

Mississippi

-1.0

Very Low

39th percentile

Tate County

Mississippi

+1.3

Very Low

41th 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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