George County, Mississippi
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
George County, Mississippi has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 58% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $909 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (Tropical Storm Arthur). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (76 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $397,000 on 67 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in George County
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 92.7 | $14M | ||
| Inland flooding | 31.2 | $4M | ||
| Tornado | 49.6 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 67.5 | $501K | ||
| Heat wave | 50.4 | $420K | ||
| Cold wave | 24.9 | $356K | ||
| Strong wind | 31.5 | $340K | ||
| Wildfire | 75.6 | $305K | ||
| Drought | 52.4 | $190K | ||
| Hail | 32.8 | $149K | ||
| Earthquake | 28.6 | $71K | ||
| Ice storm | 26.9 | $29K | ||
| Winter weather | 14.5 | $13K | ||
| Landslide | 28.8 | $313 | ||
| Coastal flooding | 16.8 | $8 |
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 low 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 George County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 32
Mississippi also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1959
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 202 storm reports in George County since 1959, with 4 deaths and 38 injuries and about $4.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 27, 1976.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 1976 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 19, 1980 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 12, 1971 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Feb 12, 1971 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 7, 1973 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2021 | Flash Flood | Benndale | $2M |
| Apr 14, 2018 | Flash Flood | Ruble | $500K |
| Feb 12, 1971 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Mar 27, 1976 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 19, 1980 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Mar 29, 1987 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 11, 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 1852, 24 hurricanes and 28 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of George County, 18 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with top winds near 175 mph about 59 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 1969 | Camille | Category 5, 175 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 13, 1979 | Frederic | Category 3, 125 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 16, 2004 | Ivan | Category 3, 120 mph | 65 mi |
| Jul 5, 1916 | Unnamed | Category 3, 120 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 2, 1985 | Elena | Category 3, 115 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 12, 1860 | Unnamed | Category 3, 115 mph | 54 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 19, 2021 | Claudette | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 29, 2020 | Zeta | Category 1, 95 mph | 53 mi |
| Sep 5, 2018 | Gordon | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 57 mi |
| Oct 8, 2017 | Nate | Category 1, 75 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Katrina | Category 3, 110 mph | 62 mi |
| Jul 6, 2005 | Cindy | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 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 George 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 George 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; 10,373 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile County, AL | 39 | |
| Jackson County | 34 | |
| Stone County | 29 | |
| Greene County | 31 | |
| Perry County | 31 |
Common questions about George County
What is the biggest natural hazard in George County?
Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in George County, about $14.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4 million.
How many federal disasters has George County had?
George County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Storm Arthur in August 2026.
Is George County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 32nd 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 George County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in George 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 George County had?
NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in George County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 27, 1976. The weather service has also logged 43 hail reports and 35 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit George County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 24 hurricanes and 28 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of George County, including 9 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with winds near 175 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.