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Choctaw County, Mississippi

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

Very Low overall risk
79th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$4Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$974,615 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.
$873,659 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$609,410 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low10.0
$975K
TornadoLow48.6
$874K
Strong windModerate64.4
$609K
Cold waveLow35.1
$395K
EarthquakeVery Low50.1
$205K
HailLow50.9
$201K
Heat waveLow41.8
$185K
HurricaneLow59.5
$145K
DroughtLow51.4
$117K
LightningLow28.4
$76K
Ice stormLow43.0
$46K
Winter weatherVery Low20.4
$13K
WildfireVery Low23.0
$7K
LandslideVery Low42.7
$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

Severe Storm8
Hurricane5
Severe Ice Storm2
Winter Storm2
Tornado1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
May 4, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
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 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 18
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2001Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1999Severe Winter Storms, Ice and Freezing RainMajor disaster
Nov 25, 1992Severe Storms, High Winds & TornadoesMajor disaster
May 17, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1979Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster

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.

24tornadoes
59hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
123damaging thunderstorm winds
24floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 11, 1963F4–5 / 2
Nov 22, 1992F4–12 / 1
Apr 24, 2010EF3French Camp35 / 5
Jan 10, 2008EF3Weir3 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF2Chester5 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 24, 2010TornadoFrench Camp$96M
Nov 22, 1992Tornado–$25M
Jan 10, 2008TornadoWeir$5M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoChester$1M
Jul 13, 2023Flash FloodAckerman$1M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoFrench 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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
20tropical storms
2005most recent: Katrina

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi
Aug 29, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 60 mph52 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph52 mi
Sep 2, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph58 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 29, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 60 mph52 mi
Sep 26, 2002IsidoreTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Aug 4, 1995ErinTropical storm, 35 mph62 mi
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 45 mph61 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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (11 policies)
10.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$154,781paid on 17 flood claims since 1978
2006costliest year, with $68,613 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 Choctaw County

$117,200median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
51%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.5%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; 4,375 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
Oktibbeha CountyLow17
Attala CountyVery Low21
Winston CountyVery Low16
Webster CountyVery Low20
Montgomery CountyVery Low19

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.