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Pike County, Mississippi

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

Relatively Low overall risk
20th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$18Mexpected losses a year
32federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Pike County, Mississippi has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 70% of US counties. It ranks 20th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $440 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (78 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.3 million on 190 claims here.

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

Top risks in Pike County

$6.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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
$4.4 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$3.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow64.8
$7M
TornadoModerate90.1
$4M
HurricaneModerate87.2
$3M
Heat waveModerate82.3
$1M
Strong windModerate75.5
$692K
HailModerate80.1
$537K
LightningHigh82.7
$505K
Cold waveLow36.9
$354K
EarthquakeVery Low52.5
$191K
DroughtLow55.9
$133K
WildfireLow71.5
$119K
Ice stormModerate64.5
$100K
Winter weatherVery Low18.7
$10K
LandslideVery Low40.8
$426

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 Pike County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane16
Severe Storm8
Flood2
Tornado2
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
May 4, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Oct 8, 2020Hurricane DeltaEmergency
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Aug 23, 2020Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm LauraEmergency
Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 32
Aug 29, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2012Tropical Storm IsaacEmergency
Sep 22, 2008Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster
Oct 1, 2002Tropical Storm IsidoreMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2001Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 1, 1998Hurricane GeorgesMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1998Hurricane GeorgesEmergency
Feb 28, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1983Severe Storms, Flooding & TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 19, 1980Storms, Flood, Mudslides & TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency
Jan 30, 1975TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 18, 1975TornadoesEmergency
Apr 18, 1974Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 27, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 19, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 18, 1969Hurricane CamilleMajor disaster
Sep 25, 1965Hurricane BetsyMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1962

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 347 storm reports in Pike County since 1962, with 6 deaths and 219 injuries and about $31.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on January 10, 1975.

37tornadoes
85hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
202damaging thunderstorm winds
16floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 10, 1975F4–200 / 4
Dec 13, 1977F3–2 / 0
Nov 11, 1962F2–0 / 0
Mar 31, 1981F2–0 / 0
Mar 12, 1986F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 10, 1975Tornado–$25M
Dec 13, 1977Tornado–$3M
Aug 12, 2016Flash FloodTerrys Creek$440K
Nov 11, 1962Tornado–$250K
Mar 31, 1981Tornado–$250K
Nov 20, 1986Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 9, 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 1856, 9 hurricanes and 27 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Pike County, 16 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with top winds near 140 mph about 62 miles away.

9hurricanes
1major hurricanes (Category 3+)
27tropical storms
2024most recent: Francine

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleCategory 4, 140 mph62 mi
Aug 29, 2005KatrinaCategory 2, 105 mph60 mi
Sep 2, 1985ElenaCategory 2, 100 mph62 mi
Aug 30, 2021IdaCategory 1, 90 mph59 mi
Sep 1, 1879UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph49 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 12, 2024FrancineTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Aug 30, 2021IdaCategory 1, 90 mph59 mi
Jun 19, 2021ClaudetteTropical storm, 40 mph56 mi
Jun 8, 2020CristobalTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Aug 29, 2005KatrinaCategory 2, 105 mph60 mi
Jun 30, 2003BillTropical storm, 50 mph54 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 Pike County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (78 policies)
11.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.3 millionpaid on 190 flood claims since 1978
2012costliest year, with $984,379 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 Pike County

$110,800median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
43%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
25.5%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; 19,200 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
Tangipahoa Parish, LAModerate45
Washington Parish, LAModerate39
Lincoln CountyLow30
Walthall CountyVery Low27
Amite CountyLow27

Common questions about Pike County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pike County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pike County, about $6.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Pike County had?

Pike County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Pike County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 20th 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 Pike County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Pike 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 Pike County had?

NOAA records list 37 tornadoes in Pike County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on January 10, 1975. The weather service has also logged 85 hail reports and 16 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Pike County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 9 hurricanes and 27 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Pike County, including 1 major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with winds near 140 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.