Home › Mississippi › Amite County

Amite County, Mississippi

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

Relatively Low overall risk
47th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$9Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Amite County, Mississippi has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 52% of US counties. It ranks 47th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $8.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $698 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 4 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $195,000 on 24 claims here.

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

Top risks in Amite County

$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow46.3
$3M
HurricaneModerate86.3
$3M
TornadoModerate67.1
$1M
Cold waveLow40.6
$387K
Heat waveLow61.3
$353K
Strong windLow41.2
$246K
HailLow58.7
$209K
LightningLow50.4
$136K
DroughtLow50.0
$83K
EarthquakeVery Low34.0
$60K
WildfireVery Low61.2
$53K
Ice stormLow51.4
$52K
Winter weatherVery Low8.5
$4K
LandslideVery Low44.6
$530

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane14
Severe Storm7
Tornado2
Winter Storm2
Flood1
Snowstorm1

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
Oct 8, 2020Hurricane DeltaEmergency
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Aug 23, 2020Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm LauraEmergency
Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
Show all 27
Aug 28, 2012Tropical Storm IsaacEmergency
May 12, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 22, 2008Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster
Oct 1, 2002Tropical Storm IsidoreMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2001Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Nov 25, 1992Severe Storms, High Winds & TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 24, 1978TornadoesEmergency
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency
Mar 27, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 19, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 18, 1969Hurricane CamilleMajor disaster
Sep 25, 1965Hurricane BetsyMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 204 storm reports in Amite County since 1961, with 1 death and 10 injuries and about $4.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on December 13, 1977.

40tornadoes
40hail reports, largest 2 inches
109damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 13, 1977F3–0 / 0
Dec 16, 2019EF3Bewelcome3 / 0
Mar 12, 1986F2–0 / 0
Apr 23, 2020EF2East Fork0 / 0
Apr 17, 1978F2–2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 12, 2016Flash FloodCrosby Muni Arpt$590K
Jan 27, 1994Thunderstorm WindGloster$500K
May 8, 1995TornadoBerwick To$300K
Dec 14, 2022Flash FloodColes$300K
Jul 21, 1986Tornado–$250K
Mar 12, 1986Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 11, 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, 12 hurricanes and 29 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Amite County, 17 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with top winds near 115 mph about 65 miles away.

12hurricanes
1major hurricanes (Category 3+)
29tropical storms
2024most recent: Francine

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleCategory 3, 115 mph65 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedCategory 2, 95 mph55 mi
Sep 1, 1879UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph60 mi
Aug 30, 2021IdaCategory 1, 90 mph58 mi
Oct 2, 1860UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph56 mi
Sep 2, 1985ElenaCategory 1, 85 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 12, 2024FrancineTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Aug 30, 2021IdaCategory 1, 90 mph58 mi
Jun 8, 2020CristobalTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Aug 30, 2012IsaacTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Jun 30, 2003BillTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Sep 26, 2002IsidoreTropical storm, 60 mph64 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 Amite County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
0.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$194,534paid on 24 flood claims since 1978
1979costliest year, with $88,480 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 Amite County

$100,800median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
38.8%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; 7,346 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
Tangipahoa Parish, LAModerate45
Pike CountyLow32
Lincoln CountyLow30
East Feliciana Parish, LALow38
St. Helena Parish, LAVery Low37
Wilkinson CountyVery Low30
Franklin CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Amite County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Amite County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Amite County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $2.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Amite County had?

Amite County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Amite County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 47th 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 Amite County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Amite County had?

NOAA records list 40 tornadoes in Amite County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on December 13, 1977. The weather service has also logged 40 hail reports and 10 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Amite County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 12 hurricanes and 29 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Amite County, including 1 major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with winds near 115 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.