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Montgomery County, Mississippi

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

Very Low overall risk
81st of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$4Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Montgomery County, Mississippi has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 89% of US counties. It ranks 81st of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $416 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 10 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Montgomery County

$1.4 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.
$844,787 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.
$430,285 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low14.6
$1M
TornadoLow44.8
$845K
Cold waveLow35.3
$430K
EarthquakeVery Low57.4
$324K
Strong windLow34.5
$278K
Heat waveLow45.3
$237K
HailLow45.4
$176K
LightningLow34.6
$105K
DroughtLow47.9
$101K
HurricaneVery Low53.7
$87K
Ice stormLow35.7
$35K
WildfireVery Low27.8
$10K
Winter weatherVery Low3.4
$2K
LandslideVery Low52.5
$1K

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Hurricane6
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 26, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
Apr 16, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 22, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
Aug 29, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
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
Jan 25, 1999Severe Winter Storms, Ice and Freezing RainMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1979Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency
Mar 27, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 280 storm reports in Montgomery County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 10 injuries and about $19.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on March 24, 2023 near Foltz.

26tornadoes
73hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
151damaging thunderstorm winds
29floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 24, 2023EF3Foltz0 / 0
Nov 14, 1957F3–0 / 0
Apr 30, 2017EF2Kilmichael0 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF2Polar Creek0 / 0
May 13, 1976F2–4 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 24, 2023TornadoFoltz$6M
Apr 30, 2017TornadoKilmichael$5M
Apr 30, 2017TornadoKilmichael$2M
Apr 7, 2006HailDuck Hill$1M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoPolar Creek$1M
Dec 31, 2010Flash FloodSawyer$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 1, 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 16 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Montgomery County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Camille (1969), with top winds near 70 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
16tropical storms
2005most recent: Katrina

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 55 mph58 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Sep 2, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 55 mph58 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph51 mi
Sep 5, 1948UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Sep 20, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 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 Montgomery County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (10 policies)
8.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Montgomery County

$126,800median 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
19.4%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; 5,454 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
Grenada CountyLow25
Attala CountyVery Low21
Carroll CountyVery Low22
Webster CountyVery Low20
Choctaw CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Montgomery County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Montgomery County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Montgomery County, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $844,787.

How many federal disasters has Montgomery County had?

Montgomery County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Montgomery County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 81st 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 Montgomery County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County had?

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Montgomery County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on March 24, 2023 near Foltz. The weather service has also logged 73 hail reports and 29 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Montgomery County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Montgomery 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.