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Carroll County, Mississippi

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

Very Low overall risk
69th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$5Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Carroll County, Mississippi has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 77% of US counties. It ranks 69th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $544 per resident. Since 1971 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 16 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $268,000 on 16 claims here.

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

Top risks in Carroll County

$1.7 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$999,513 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$758,437 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 Low20.4
$2M
Strong windModerate83.1
$1000K
TornadoLow47.3
$758K
Cold waveLow41.3
$465K
EarthquakeLow61.7
$338K
DroughtModerate68.2
$314K
HailLow64.5
$297K
Heat waveLow51.6
$273K
HurricaneLow58.7
$123K
LightningLow39.9
$107K
Ice stormLow42.0
$40K
WildfireVery Low47.1
$27K
LandslideLow73.5
$6K
Winter weatherVery Low4.4
$2K

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm11
Hurricane6
Winter Storm2
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
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
Mar 26, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
Apr 23, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
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
Show all 22
Aug 29, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2012Tropical Storm IsaacEmergency
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2001Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1999Severe Winter Storms, Ice and Freezing RainMajor disaster
May 17, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 3, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency
Mar 27, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 22, 1971Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 343 storm reports in Carroll County since 1953, with 7 deaths and 22 injuries and about $25 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on March 24, 2023 near Black Hawk.

28tornadoes
78hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
204damaging thunderstorm winds
31floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 24, 2023EF3Black Hawk5 / 3
Dec 21, 1990F3–15 / 1
Nov 7, 1957F3–1 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF2Beatty0 / 0
Nov 19, 1988F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 24, 2023TornadoBlack Hawk$9M
Apr 7, 2006HailCarrollton$6M
Dec 21, 1990Tornado–$3M
Apr 30, 2017TornadoVaiden$1M
May 18, 2025TornadoValley Hill$900K
Apr 27, 2011Thunderstorm WindCarrollton$450K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Oct 18, 2025. 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 15 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Carroll County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Camille (1969), with top winds near 70 mph about 51 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
15tropical storms
2005most recent: Katrina

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 70 mph51 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Sep 2, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph61 mi
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 55 mph62 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph53 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 55 mph62 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 70 mph51 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph53 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Sep 20, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph42 mi
Sep 2, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 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 Carroll County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (16 policies)
19.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$268,443paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $120,360 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 Carroll County

$109,600median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
29.4%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; 4,964 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
Leflore CountyLow23
Grenada CountyLow25
Attala CountyVery Low21
Holmes CountyLow28
Montgomery CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Carroll County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Carroll County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Carroll County, about $1.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $999,513.

How many federal disasters has Carroll County had?

Carroll County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1971, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Carroll County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 69th 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 Carroll County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Carroll 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 Carroll County had?

NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Carroll County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on March 24, 2023 near Black Hawk. The weather service has also logged 78 hail reports and 31 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Carroll County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 15 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Carroll County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Camille (1969), with winds near 70 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.