Greene County, Mississippi
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Greene County, Mississippi has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 58% of US counties. It ranks 53rd of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $9.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $699 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (Tropical Storm Arthur). Only 32 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $651,000 on 45 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Greene 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 | 87.5 | $4M | ||
| Inland flooding | 38.3 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 56.9 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 32.4 | $334K | ||
| Heat wave | 48.2 | $244K | ||
| Strong wind | 30.7 | $211K | ||
| Lightning | 50.8 | $169K | ||
| Wildfire | 73.3 | $159K | ||
| Hail | 34.3 | $100K | ||
| Earthquake | 31.0 | $61K | ||
| Drought | 36.2 | $33K | ||
| Ice storm | 25.4 | $17K | ||
| Winter weather | 17.5 | $11K | ||
| Landslide | 47.2 | $814 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Greene County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 31
Mississippi also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 205 storm reports in Greene County since 1958, with 1 death and 32 injuries and about $18.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 15, 2011 near Leakesville.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2011 | EF3 | Leakesville | 25 / 1 |
| Mar 20, 1983 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 26, 1958 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 19, 1996 | F2 | Richton | 4 / 0 |
| Feb 12, 1971 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2011 | Tornado | Leakesville | $11M |
| Mar 20, 1983 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 5, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $2M |
| Nov 15, 2006 | Tornado | Avera | $750K |
| Apr 4, 2011 | Tornado | Avera | $500K |
| Dec 27, 2018 | Flash Flood | Sand Hill | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 7, 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, 19 hurricanes and 31 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Greene County, 16 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with top winds near 125 mph about 63 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 1969 | Camille | Category 3, 125 mph | 63 mi |
| Jul 5, 1916 | Unnamed | Category 3, 120 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 13, 1979 | Frederic | Category 3, 115 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 12, 1860 | Unnamed | Category 3, 115 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 26, 1852 | Unnamed | Category 3, 110 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 27, 1906 | Unnamed | Category 2, 110 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 19, 2021 | Claudette | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 57 mi |
| Oct 29, 2020 | Zeta | Category 1, 90 mph | 29 mi |
| Sep 5, 2018 | Gordon | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 8, 2017 | Nate | Category 1, 75 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Katrina | Category 2, 100 mph | 64 mi |
| Jul 10, 2005 | Dennis | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 62 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 Greene 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 Greene 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; 5,190 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 | |
| George County | 32 | |
| Wayne County | 30 | |
| Washington County, AL | 25 | |
| Perry County | 31 |
Common questions about Greene County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Greene County?
Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Greene County, about $3.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Greene County had?
Greene County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Storm Arthur in August 2026.
Is Greene County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 53rd 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 Greene County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Greene 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 Greene County had?
NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Greene County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 15, 2011 near Leakesville. The weather service has also logged 55 hail reports and 31 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Greene County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 19 hurricanes and 31 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Greene County, including 5 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with winds near 125 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.