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Grenada County, Mississippi

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

Relatively Low overall risk
37th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$12Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 59homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Grenada County, Mississippi has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 55% of US counties. It ranks 37th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $552 per resident. Since 1971 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 59 homes here carry federal flood insurance (155 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.7 million on 320 claims here, including $1.8 million for floods in 1983.

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

Top risks in Grenada County

$5.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2 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.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 295 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow58.7
$6M
TornadoModerate74.8
$2M
EarthquakeLow82.5
$1M
Cold waveLow58.4
$855K
Heat waveLow68.7
$558K
Strong windModerate62.4
$505K
LightningModerate73.5
$361K
HailLow69.5
$351K
HurricaneLow60.7
$145K
DroughtLow49.0
$87K
Ice stormLow55.9
$71K
WildfireVery Low49.1
$29K
LandslideLow70.0
$4K
Winter weatherVery Low8.0
$4K

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 Grenada County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Hurricane6
Tornado2
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm2
Winter Storm2

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
May 4, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 16, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
Show all 25
Aug 28, 2012Tropical Storm IsaacEmergency
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
Jan 25, 1999Severe Winter Storms, Ice and Freezing RainMajor disaster
Feb 18, 1994Severe Winter Storm, Freeezing Rain and SleetMajor disaster
May 17, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 21, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingEmergency
Apr 24, 1978TornadoesEmergency
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency
Mar 27, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 22, 1971Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 397 storm reports in Grenada County since 1955, with 7 deaths and 11 injuries and about $11.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on February 21, 1971.

21tornadoes
74hail reports, largest 3 inches
229damaging thunderstorm winds
68floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 21, 1971F4–0 / 0
Dec 21, 1990F3–0 / 0
Nov 20, 1973F3–0 / 0
Feb 4, 1971F2–0 / 7
Mar 10, 1973F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 6, 2003Flash FloodGrenada$1M
May 5, 2003Flash FloodGrenada$500K
Jun 19, 2007Flash FloodGrenada$500K
Jun 22, 2018Thunderstorm WindGrenada$500K
May 10, 2006Thunderstorm WindGrenada$400K
Nov 26, 2001TornadoLeflore$350K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 15, 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 1860, 0 hurricanes and 14 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Grenada County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 70 mph about 55 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
14tropical storms
2005most recent: Katrina

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph55 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph51 mi
Jul 6, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 65 mph59 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Sep 20, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Sep 2, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 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 Grenada County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (155 policies)
16.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.7 millionpaid on 320 flood claims since 1978
1983costliest year, with $1.8 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 Grenada County

$132,200median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.7%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; 10,444 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
Leflore CountyLow23
Calhoun CountyVery Low20
Tallahatchie CountyVery Low25
Yalobusha CountyVery Low18
Carroll CountyVery Low22
Webster CountyVery Low20
Montgomery CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Grenada County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Grenada County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Grenada County, about $5.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2 million.

How many federal disasters has Grenada County had?

Grenada County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1971, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Grenada County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 37th 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 Grenada County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 59 homes in Grenada 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 Grenada County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Grenada County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on February 21, 1971. The weather service has also logged 74 hail reports and 68 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Grenada County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 14 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Grenada 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.