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Chickasaw County, Mississippi

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

Relatively Low overall risk
49th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$10Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Chickasaw County, Mississippi has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 56% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $9.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $565 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 9 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Chickasaw County

$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.9 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 280 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low26.5
$2M
TornadoModerate72.6
$2M
EarthquakeLow81.5
$1M
Cold waveModerate66.0
$1M
Strong windHigh86.7
$1M
DroughtModerate78.3
$578K
Heat waveLow66.5
$539K
HurricaneLow67.5
$327K
LightningLow55.5
$197K
HailLow37.8
$115K
Ice stormLow50.6
$61K
WildfireVery Low30.9
$10K
Winter weatherVery Low10.3
$5K
LandslideVery Low34.2
$293

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 Chickasaw County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Hurricane5
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1
Tornado1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
Apr 16, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 6, 2019Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 21
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
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
Nov 25, 1992Severe Storms, High Winds & TornadoesMajor disaster
May 17, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency
Mar 27, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor 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 259 storm reports in Chickasaw County since 1953, with 5 deaths and 34 injuries and about $9.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Atlanta.

30tornadoes
55hail reports, largest 3 inches
157damaging thunderstorm winds
16floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 2011EF3Atlanta25 / 3
Jan 19, 1988F3–0 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF3Mc Condy2 / 0
May 7, 2003F2Houston0 / 0
Mar 12, 1975F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 19, 1988Tornado–$3M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoAtlanta$2M
May 7, 2003TornadoHouston$1M
Jun 26, 1994TornadoOkalona$500K
Mar 12, 1975Tornado–$250K
Dec 22, 1988Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 15, 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 Chickasaw County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with top winds near 60 mph about 55 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 60 mph55 mi
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 55 mph58 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Sep 2, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 55 mph58 mi
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 60 mph55 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph50 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 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 Chickasaw County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (9 policies)
6.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$8,170paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
1999costliest year, with $5,002 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 Chickasaw County

$109,800median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
22.6%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; 7,851 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
Lee CountyModerate20
Monroe CountyLow24
Pontotoc CountyLow18
Clay CountyVery Low25
Calhoun CountyVery Low20
Webster CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Chickasaw County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Chickasaw County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Chickasaw County, about $2.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Chickasaw County had?

Chickasaw County has been included in 21 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 Chickasaw County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 49th 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 Chickasaw County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Chickasaw 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 Chickasaw County had?

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Chickasaw County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 27, 2011 near Atlanta. The weather service has also logged 55 hail reports and 16 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Chickasaw County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 17 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Chickasaw County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with winds near 60 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.