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Adams County, Mississippi

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
33rd of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$13Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Adams County, Mississippi has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 57% of US counties. It ranks 33rd of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $425 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 33 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.4 million on 187 claims here, including $474,000 for floods in 2011.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Adams County

$5.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 16 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow59.0
$6M
TornadoModerate82.1
$3M
Heat waveModerate84.8
$1M
Cold waveLow56.1
$770K
HurricaneLow75.2
$657K
Strong windModerate61.2
$488K
HailLow71.3
$382K
EarthquakeVery Low47.2
$153K
LightningLow49.8
$149K
Ice stormModerate64.1
$104K
DroughtLow48.0
$81K
WildfireVery Low41.1
$18K
Winter weatherVery Low15.5
$8K
LandslideLow72.4
$5K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Adams County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane11
Severe Storm6
Flood4
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 12, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes.Major disaster
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
May 4, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Oct 8, 2020Hurricane DeltaEmergency
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Aug 23, 2020Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm LauraEmergency
May 22, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 25
Aug 29, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
May 11, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2011FloodingEmergency
Sep 22, 2008Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Mar 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 19, 1980Storms, Flood, Mudslides & TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1979Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency
Apr 18, 1974Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 27, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 1965Hurricane BetsyMajor disaster

Mississippi also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 386 storm reports in Adams County since 1950, with 2 deaths and 54 injuries and about $52.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on November 1, 2018 near Natchez.

20tornadoes
75hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
241damaging thunderstorm winds
44floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 1, 2018EF2Natchez0 / 0
Apr 30, 2017EF2Linwood0 / 0
Sep 20, 2013EF2Kingston0 / 0
Jun 29, 1976F2–0 / 0
Apr 3, 1982F2–40 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 26, 1998Thunderstorm WindNatchez$30M
Sep 2, 2008Flash FloodSibley$6M
May 3, 2009Thunderstorm WindNatchez$3M
Mar 17, 1987Tornado–$3M
Dec 9, 2008TornadoNatchez$3M
Aug 18, 2010Flash FloodSibley$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 23, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1856, 6 hurricanes and 25 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Adams County, 14 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1909, with top winds near 95 mph about 51 miles away.

6hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
25tropical storms
2021most recent: Ida

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedCategory 2, 95 mph51 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph58 mi
Sep 1, 1879UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph63 mi
Oct 2, 1860UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph57 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyCategory 1, 75 mph58 mi
Jun 16, 1934UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2021IdaTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Oct 10, 2020DeltaTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Jun 8, 2020CristobalTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi
Aug 30, 2012IsaacTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Oct 3, 2002LiliTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Aug 26, 1992AndrewTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Adams County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (33 policies)
12.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.4 millionpaid on 187 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $474,240 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Adams County

$108,700median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.6%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 14,928 housing units.

Compare in Mississippi

All 82 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Hinds CountyModerateInland flooding
Harrison CountyHighHurricane
DeSoto CountyModerateEarthquake
Rankin CountyModerateInland flooding
Jackson CountyModerateHurricane
Madison CountyModerateInland flooding
Lee CountyModerateInland flooding
Forrest CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Concordia Parish, LAVery Low35
Wilkinson CountyVery Low30
Franklin CountyVery Low23
Jefferson CountyVery Low24
Tensas Parish, LAVery Low27

Common questions about Adams County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Adams County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Adams County, about $5.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Adams County had?

Adams County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Adams County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 33rd highest of 82 in Mississippi. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Adams County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Adams County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Adams County had?

NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Adams County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on November 1, 2018 near Natchez. The weather service has also logged 75 hail reports and 44 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Adams County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 6 hurricanes and 25 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Adams County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1909, with winds near 95 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.