Amite County, Mississippi
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 46.3 | $3M | ||
| Hurricane | 86.3 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 67.1 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 40.6 | $387K | ||
| Heat wave | 61.3 | $353K | ||
| Strong wind | 41.2 | $246K | ||
| Hail | 58.7 | $209K | ||
| Lightning | 50.4 | $136K | ||
| Drought | 50.0 | $83K | ||
| Earthquake | 34.0 | $60K | ||
| Wildfire | 61.2 | $53K | ||
| Ice storm | 51.4 | $52K | ||
| Winter weather | 8.5 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 44.6 | $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
Most recent
Show all 27
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 13, 1977 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 16, 2019 | EF3 | Bewelcome | 3 / 0 |
| Mar 12, 1986 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 23, 2020 | EF2 | East Fork | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 17, 1978 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2016 | Flash Flood | Crosby Muni Arpt | $590K |
| Jan 27, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gloster | $500K |
| May 8, 1995 | Tornado | Berwick To | $300K |
| Dec 14, 2022 | Flash Flood | Coles | $300K |
| Jul 21, 1986 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Mar 12, 1986 | Tornado | – | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 1969 | Camille | Category 3, 115 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 21, 1909 | Unnamed | Category 2, 95 mph | 55 mi |
| Sep 1, 1879 | Unnamed | Category 1, 90 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 30, 2021 | Ida | Category 1, 90 mph | 58 mi |
| Oct 2, 1860 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 56 mi |
| Sep 2, 1985 | Elena | Category 1, 85 mph | 55 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2024 | Francine | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 30, 2021 | Ida | Category 1, 90 mph | 58 mi |
| Jun 8, 2020 | Cristobal | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 54 mi |
| Aug 30, 2012 | Isaac | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 63 mi |
| Jun 30, 2003 | Bill | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 26, 2002 | Isidore | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 64 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Hinds County | Inland flooding | |
| Harrison County | Hurricane | |
| DeSoto County | Earthquake | |
| Rankin County | Inland flooding | |
| Jackson County | Hurricane | |
| Madison County | Inland flooding | |
| Lee County | Inland flooding | |
| Forrest County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Tangipahoa Parish, LA | 45 | |
| Pike County | 32 | |
| Lincoln County | 30 | |
| East Feliciana Parish, LA | 38 | |
| St. Helena Parish, LA | 37 | |
| Wilkinson County | 30 | |
| Franklin County | 23 |
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.