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Claiborne County, Mississippi

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

Very Low overall risk
68th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$5Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Claiborne County, Mississippi has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 75% of US counties. It ranks 68th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $5.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $598 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 18 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.9 million on 223 claims here, including $1.4 million for floods in 2011.

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

Top risks in Claiborne County

$2 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
$1.5 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.

Hail

Low
$394,300 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low25.8
$2M
TornadoModerate66.6
$1M
HailLow71.8
$394K
Heat waveLow60.9
$393K
HurricaneLow67.9
$320K
Strong windLow41.6
$280K
DroughtModerate64.4
$247K
Cold waveVery Low22.1
$170K
EarthquakeVery Low39.0
$93K
LightningLow28.4
$67K
Ice stormLow49.9
$55K
WildfireVery Low29.2
$9K
LandslideLow69.9
$4K
Winter weatherVery Low6.0
$3K

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Hurricane9
Flood3
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1
Tornado1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 12, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes.Major disaster
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
May 4, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Oct 8, 2020Hurricane DeltaEmergency
Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 22, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 27
Mar 25, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
May 11, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2011FloodingEmergency
Sep 22, 2008Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster
May 17, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 1, 1983Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1983Severe Storms, Flooding & TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1979Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster
Apr 24, 1978TornadoesEmergency
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency
Mar 27, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 1965Hurricane BetsyMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 317 storm reports in Claiborne County since 1956, with 1 death and 12 injuries and about $34.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 17, 1978.

41tornadoes
53hail reports, largest 2 inches
201damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 17, 1978F3–2 / 0
Apr 30, 2017EF2Gordon0 / 0
Apr 8, 1984F2–6 / 0
Sep 25, 2005F2Pattison0 / 0
Mar 21, 2012EF2Willows0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 17, 1978Tornado–$25M
Aug 2, 2008Thunderstorm WindBadland$900K
Apr 30, 2017TornadoGordon$650K
Jun 15, 2023HailPort Gibson$500K
Feb 3, 2006HailAlcorn$400K
Sep 2, 2008Flash FloodRocky Spgs$400K

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 1856, 3 hurricanes and 23 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Claiborne County, 11 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with top winds near 95 mph about 64 miles away.

3hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
23tropical storms
2021most recent: Ida

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleCategory 1, 95 mph64 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph61 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph63 mi
Sep 1, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi
Oct 2, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph53 mi
Sep 2, 1985ElenaTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2021IdaTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Oct 10, 2020DeltaTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Oct 4, 2002LiliTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Aug 26, 1992AndrewTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Sep 2, 1985ElenaTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi
Aug 16, 1985DannyTropical storm, 45 mph64 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 Claiborne County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (18 policies)
10.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.9 millionpaid on 223 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $1.4 million 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 Claiborne County

$82,700median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
37%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; 3,959 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
Hinds CountyModerate24
Warren CountyModerate31
Copiah CountyLow26
Jefferson CountyVery Low24
Tensas Parish, LAVery Low27

Common questions about Claiborne County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Claiborne County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Claiborne County, about $2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Claiborne County had?

Claiborne County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Claiborne County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 68th 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 Claiborne County?

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

NOAA records list 41 tornadoes in Claiborne County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 17, 1978. The weather service has also logged 53 hail reports and 21 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Claiborne County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 23 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Claiborne County. The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with winds near 95 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.