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Calhoun County, Mississippi

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

Very Low overall risk
65th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$7Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Calhoun County, Mississippi has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 72% of US counties. It ranks 65th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $497 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 20 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 $807,000 on 38 claims here.

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

Top risks in Calhoun County

$2.1 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.
$913,292 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 285 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$873,350 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low25.3
$2M
EarthquakeLow76.8
$913K
TornadoLow49.4
$873K
Cold waveLow52.8
$759K
Heat waveLow66.8
$564K
DroughtModerate75.9
$520K
HurricaneLow63.6
$220K
Strong windLow31.1
$216K
HailLow47.1
$168K
LightningLow48.0
$156K
Ice stormLow39.8
$37K
WildfireVery Low26.4
$8K
Winter weatherVery Low7.6
$4K
LandslideVery Low54.7
$1K

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 relatively high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm11
Hurricane5
Winter Storm2
Flood1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
Apr 16, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 22, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Show all 20
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
May 23, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes and High WindsMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2001Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1999Severe Winter Storms, Ice and Freezing RainMajor disaster
Feb 18, 1994Severe Winter Storm, Freeezing Rain and SleetMajor disaster
May 17, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1979Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster
Mar 27, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 233 storm reports in Calhoun County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $3.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Slate.

24tornadoes
48hail reports, largest 2 inches
134damaging thunderstorm winds
26floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 2011EF3Slate0 / 0
Apr 4, 1977F3–1 / 0
Mar 1, 1997F3Banner1 / 0
Feb 24, 2001F3Bruce0 / 0
Apr 1, 1974F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 2, 2021TornadoCalhoun City$500K
Nov 1, 2018TornadoCalhoun City$300K
Apr 1, 1970Tornado–$250K
Apr 27, 2011TornadoSlate$250K
Apr 30, 2017TornadoDentontown$200K
May 2, 2010Flash FloodPittsboro$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 1860, 0 hurricanes and 17 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Calhoun County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 65 mph about 64 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
17tropical storms
2005most recent: Katrina

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 55 mph62 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi
Sep 2, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 55 mph62 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph44 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi
Sep 20, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 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 Calhoun County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (33 policies)
8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$807,240paid on 38 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $317,254 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 Calhoun County

$90,300median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.6%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; 6,750 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
Lafayette CountyLow19
Pontotoc CountyLow18
Grenada CountyLow25
Chickasaw CountyLow21
Yalobusha CountyVery Low18
Webster CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Calhoun County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Calhoun County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Calhoun County, about $2.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $913,292.

How many federal disasters has Calhoun County had?

Calhoun County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Calhoun County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 65th 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 Calhoun County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Calhoun 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 Calhoun County had?

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Calhoun County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Slate. The weather service has also logged 48 hail reports and 26 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Calhoun County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 17 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Calhoun County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 65 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.