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Leflore County, Mississippi

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

Relatively Low overall risk
17th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$20Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 20homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Leflore County, Mississippi has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 74% of US counties. It ranks 17th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $709 per resident. Since 1971 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 20 homes here carry federal flood insurance (528 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.4 million on 443 claims here, including $1.5 million for floods in 2021.

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

Top risks in Leflore County

$8.1 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$2.4 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 floodingLow70.0
$8M
TornadoModerate88.7
$4M
EarthquakeLow88.0
$2M
Cold waveModerate72.7
$1M
DroughtModerate88.8
$951K
Heat waveModerate79.5
$919K
Strong windModerate75.4
$701K
HailModerate81.6
$605K
HurricaneLow71.7
$436K
LightningModerate65.3
$259K
Ice stormModerate65.0
$104K
Winter weatherVery Low15.8
$8K
WildfireVery Low22.5
$6K
LandslideVery Low26.2
$137

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm11
Hurricane4
Tornado2
Flood2
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1

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
Apr 23, 2020Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Show all 23
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor 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
Jan 3, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1984TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 1, 1983Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1979Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster
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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 433 storm reports in Leflore County since 1956, with 18 deaths and 207 injuries and about $47.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on February 21, 1971.

47tornadoes
116hail reports, largest 2 inches
229damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 21, 1971F4–192 / 14
Feb 21, 1971F4–0 / 0
Apr 21, 1984F3–4 / 2
Feb 24, 2001F3Greenwood0 / 0
Feb 21, 1971F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 21, 1984Tornado–$25M
Apr 7, 2006HailMorgan City$3M
Dec 21, 1990Tornado–$3M
Feb 24, 2001TornadoGreenwood$2M
Sep 24, 2005TornadoQuito$2M
Jun 10, 2021Flash FloodSchlater$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 28, 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 11 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Leflore County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Camille (1969), with top winds near 70 mph about 61 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
11tropical storms
1969most recent: Camille

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph51 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Jul 6, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Sep 20, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph39 mi
Sep 2, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 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 Leflore County

Check your address flood zone ›
5.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (528 policies)
15.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.4 millionpaid on 443 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $1.5 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 Leflore County

$101,200median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
66%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.4%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; 12,619 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
Sunflower CountyLow20
Grenada CountyLow25
Holmes CountyLow28
Tallahatchie CountyVery Low25
Carroll CountyVery Low22
Humphreys CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Leflore County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Leflore County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Leflore County, about $8.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Leflore County had?

Leflore County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1971, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Leflore County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 17th 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 Leflore County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 20 homes in Leflore 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 Leflore County had?

NOAA records list 47 tornadoes in Leflore County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on February 21, 1971. The weather service has also logged 116 hail reports and 39 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Leflore County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 11 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Leflore County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Camille (1969), 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.