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Hinds County, Mississippi

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
2nd of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$117Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 36homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Hinds County, Mississippi has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 94% of US counties. It ranks 2nd of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $117 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $513 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 36 homes here carry federal flood insurance (2,255 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $71 million on 4,716 claims here, including $22 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 Hinds County

$56.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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.
$19 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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

Very High
$13.2 million 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 floodingHigh95.1
$56M
TornadoHigh98.2
$19M
HailVery High99.3
$13M
Heat waveHigh97.1
$7M
Cold waveHigh89.8
$5M
EarthquakeModerate90.9
$5M
Strong windVery High98.1
$4M
HurricaneModerate86.4
$3M
Ice stormVery High95.8
$1M
LightningHigh94.0
$1M
DroughtModerate80.5
$719K
Winter weatherHigh92.2
$358K
WildfireVery Low54.6
$46K
LandslideLow78.3
$10K

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane10
Severe Storm8
Tornado2
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 10, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
May 4, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Oct 8, 2020Hurricane DeltaEmergency
Apr 23, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2012Tropical Storm IsaacEmergency
Show all 24
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
May 28, 2008Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster
Dec 7, 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 1, 1983Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1979Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster
Apr 24, 1978TornadoesEmergency
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency
Feb 22, 1971Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 18, 1969Hurricane CamilleMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,443 storm reports in Hinds County since 1950, with 60 deaths and 626 injuries and about $503 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on March 3, 1966.

127tornadoes
331hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
762damaging thunderstorm winds
205floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 3, 1966F5–504 / 57
Feb 26, 1958F3–0 / 1
Apr 15, 2011EF3Raymond Williams Arp10 / 0
Mar 4, 1989F3–5 / 0
Jan 28, 1974F3–5 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 18, 2013HailOrange Hill$200M
Mar 18, 2013HailSmiths$75M
Apr 4, 2008Thunderstorm WindCynthia$60M
Apr 4, 2008TornadoLongaloo$40M
Mar 3, 1966Tornado–$25M
Apr 6, 2003Flash FloodJackson$20M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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, 2 hurricanes and 20 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Hinds County, 9 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with top winds near 100 mph about 62 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
20tropical storms
2021most recent: Ida

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleCategory 2, 100 mph62 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph55 mi
Sep 2, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph60 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph65 mi
Sep 30, 1915UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Jul 6, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2021IdaTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Oct 10, 2020DeltaTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 26, 2002IsidoreTropical storm, 50 mph48 mi
Aug 26, 1992AndrewTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Jul 11, 1979BobTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi
Sep 16, 1971EdithTropical storm, 55 mph59 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 Hinds County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (2,255 policies)
24.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$70.8 millionpaid on 4,716 flood claims since 1978
1983costliest year, with $22.4 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 Hinds County

$159,900median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
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; 106,340 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
Rankin CountyModerate22
Madison CountyModerate24
Warren CountyModerate31
Copiah CountyLow26
Yazoo CountyLow29
Simpson CountyLow28
Claiborne CountyVery Low27

Cities in Hinds County

Common questions about Hinds County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hinds County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hinds County, about $56.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $19 million.

How many federal disasters has Hinds County had?

Hinds County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Hinds County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 2nd 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 Hinds County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 36 homes in Hinds 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 Hinds County had?

NOAA records list 127 tornadoes in Hinds County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on March 3, 1966. The weather service has also logged 331 hail reports and 205 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Hinds County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 20 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Hinds County. The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with winds near 100 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.