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Oktibbeha County, Mississippi

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

Relatively Low overall risk
27th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$19Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 59homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Oktibbeha County, Mississippi has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 63% of US counties. It ranks 27th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $371 per resident. Since 1979 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 59 homes here carry federal flood insurance (266 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $678,000 on 44 claims here.

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

Top risks in Oktibbeha County

$6 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 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.8 million 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 floodingLow53.2
$6M
TornadoModerate83.3
$4M
Cold waveModerate79.2
$3M
EarthquakeLow85.1
$2M
Heat waveModerate81.2
$1M
Strong windModerate62.6
$653K
HailModerate77.3
$634K
LightningModerate73.8
$473K
HurricaneLow69.2
$451K
Ice stormModerate70.8
$193K
DroughtLow53.1
$150K
Winter weatherModerate64.4
$88K
WildfireVery Low37.7
$18K
LandslideVery Low46.5
$918

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm8
Hurricane6
Winter Storm2
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
Mar 12, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 6, 2019Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Show all 17
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Nov 14, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2001Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1999Severe Winter Storms, Ice and Freezing RainMajor disaster
May 17, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1979Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 400 storm reports in Oktibbeha County since 1951, with 1 death and 44 injuries and about $26.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 11, 1963.

33tornadoes
79hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
229damaging thunderstorm winds
52floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 11, 1963F4–0 / 0
Feb 20, 1951F3–1 / 1
Nov 29, 2010EF2Starkville Bryan Arp15 / 0
Apr 24, 2010EF2Starkville0 / 0
Apr 13, 2019EF2Bugh0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 16, 2001Thunderstorm WindSturgis$10M
Jan 1, 2011TornadoStarkville Bryan Arp$3M
Sep 25, 2005TornadoStarkville$2M
May 8, 2025HailStarkville$2M
May 8, 2025Thunderstorm WindStarkville$1M
Nov 29, 2010TornadoStarkville Bryan Arp$850K

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 1855, 0 hurricanes and 20 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Oktibbeha County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with top winds near 65 mph about 49 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
20tropical storms
2005most recent: Katrina

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 65 mph49 mi
Aug 29, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 60 mph58 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Sep 2, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph56 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 50 mph50 mi
Sep 17, 1855UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 29, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 60 mph58 mi
Aug 4, 1995ErinTropical storm, 35 mph62 mi
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 65 mph49 mi
Sep 17, 1971EdithTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 50 mph50 mi
Sep 5, 1948UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph52 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 Oktibbeha County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (266 policies)
23.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$678,032paid on 44 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $307,008 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 Oktibbeha County

$237,700median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1993median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
30%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.7%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; 25,618 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
Lowndes CountyLow21
Clay CountyVery Low25
Winston CountyVery Low16
Noxubee CountyVery Low19
Webster CountyVery Low20
Choctaw CountyVery Low18

Cities in Oktibbeha County

Common questions about Oktibbeha County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Oktibbeha County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Oktibbeha County, about $6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4 million.

How many federal disasters has Oktibbeha County had?

Oktibbeha County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1979, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Oktibbeha County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 27th 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 Oktibbeha County?

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

NOAA records list 33 tornadoes in Oktibbeha County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 11, 1963. The weather service has also logged 79 hail reports and 52 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Oktibbeha County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 20 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Oktibbeha County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Frederic (1979), with winds near 65 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.