Choctaw County, Mississippi
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Choctaw County, Mississippi has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 79th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $3.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $467 per resident. Since 1979 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 11 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $155,000 on 17 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Choctaw 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 10.0 | $975K | ||
| Tornado | 48.6 | $874K | ||
| Strong wind | 64.4 | $609K | ||
| Cold wave | 35.1 | $395K | ||
| Earthquake | 50.1 | $205K | ||
| Hail | 50.9 | $201K | ||
| Heat wave | 41.8 | $185K | ||
| Hurricane | 59.5 | $145K | ||
| Drought | 51.4 | $117K | ||
| Lightning | 28.4 | $76K | ||
| Ice storm | 43.0 | $46K | ||
| Winter weather | 20.4 | $13K | ||
| Wildfire | 23.0 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 42.7 | $593 |
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 Choctaw County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 18
Mississippi also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 231 storm reports in Choctaw County since 1957, with 9 deaths and 78 injuries and about $134 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 11, 1963.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 11, 1963 | F4 | – | 5 / 2 |
| Nov 22, 1992 | F4 | – | 12 / 1 |
| Apr 24, 2010 | EF3 | French Camp | 35 / 5 |
| Jan 10, 2008 | EF3 | Weir | 3 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF2 | Chester | 5 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 2010 | Tornado | French Camp | $96M |
| Nov 22, 1992 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jan 10, 2008 | Tornado | Weir | $5M |
| Apr 27, 2011 | Tornado | Chester | $1M |
| Jul 13, 2023 | Flash Flood | Ackerman | $1M |
| Apr 27, 2011 | Tornado | French Camp | $750K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 1, 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 1855, 0 hurricanes and 20 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Choctaw County, 6 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Camille (1969), with top winds near 70 mph about 62 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 1969 | Camille | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 13, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Katrina | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 52 mi |
| Sep 28, 1906 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 52 mi |
| Sep 2, 1879 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 58 mi |
| Oct 3, 1860 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 56 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2005 | Katrina | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 52 mi |
| Sep 26, 2002 | Isidore | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 4, 1995 | Erin | Tropical storm, 35 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 13, 1979 | Frederic | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 18, 1969 | Camille | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 31, 1950 | Baker | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 61 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 Choctaw 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 Choctaw 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; 4,375 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oktibbeha County | 17 | |
| Attala County | 21 | |
| Winston County | 16 | |
| Webster County | 20 | |
| Montgomery County | 19 |
Common questions about Choctaw County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Choctaw County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Choctaw County, about $974,615 a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $873,659.
How many federal disasters has Choctaw County had?
Choctaw County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1979, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.
Is Choctaw County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 79th 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 Choctaw County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Choctaw 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 Choctaw County had?
NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Choctaw County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 11, 1963. The weather service has also logged 59 hail reports and 24 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Choctaw County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 20 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Choctaw 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.