Home › Mississippi › Coahoma County

Coahoma County, Mississippi

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

Relatively Low overall risk
28th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$15Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Coahoma County, Mississippi has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 28th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $703 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (107 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.8 million on 333 claims here, including $3.3 million for floods in 2016.

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

Top risks in Coahoma County

$3.9 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$3.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 210 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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 floodingLow46.3
$4M
EarthquakeModerate90.7
$4M
TornadoModerate86.6
$4M
Heat waveLow78.3
$908K
Strong windModerate76.3
$758K
DroughtModerate80.1
$615K
Cold waveLow49.0
$598K
HailLow63.8
$284K
LightningLow47.1
$138K
HurricaneLow59.7
$131K
Ice stormLow42.1
$39K
Winter weatherVery Low20.7
$12K
WildfireVery Low10.5
$2K
LandslideVery Low27.6
$164

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood4
Hurricane4
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
Apr 16, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2011FloodingEmergency
Show all 21
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Dec 7, 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2001Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 18, 1994Severe Winter Storm, Freeezing Rain and SleetMajor disaster
May 17, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 24, 1978TornadoesEmergency
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 247 storm reports in Coahoma County since 1953, with 10 deaths and 67 injuries and about $40.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 29, 1963.

29tornadoes
61hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
136damaging thunderstorm winds
20floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 29, 1963F3–10 / 5
Dec 23, 2015EF3Africa19 / 2
Apr 24, 1976F3–1 / 0
Dec 21, 2013EF2Rena Lara2 / 1
May 12, 1978F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 12, 1978Tornado–$25M
May 25, 1996HailFriars Pt$3M
May 2, 1984Tornado–$3M
Jul 30, 2009TornadoHillhouse$2M
Dec 21, 2013TornadoRena Lara$1M
Mar 10, 2016FloodClarksdale$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 22, 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 12 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Coahoma County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 70 mph about 53 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
12tropical storms
1969most recent: Camille

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph53 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph56 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph50 mi
Jul 7, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph50 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi
Sep 20, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Sep 2, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph50 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 Coahoma County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (107 policies)
34.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.8 millionpaid on 333 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $3.3 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 Coahoma County

$90,300median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
67%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.4%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; 10,189 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
Bolivar CountyLow22
Sunflower CountyLow20
Phillips County, ARLow16
Tallahatchie CountyVery Low25
Tunica CountyVery Low16
Quitman CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Coahoma County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Coahoma County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Coahoma County, about $3.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $3.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Coahoma County had?

Coahoma County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Coahoma County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 28th 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 Coahoma County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in Coahoma 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 Coahoma County had?

NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Coahoma County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 29, 1963. The weather service has also logged 61 hail reports and 20 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Coahoma County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 12 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Coahoma County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, 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.