Pike County, Mississippi
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 64.8 | $7M | ||
| Tornado | 90.1 | $4M | ||
| Hurricane | 87.2 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 82.3 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 75.5 | $692K | ||
| Hail | 80.1 | $537K | ||
| Lightning | 82.7 | $505K | ||
| Cold wave | 36.9 | $354K | ||
| Earthquake | 52.5 | $191K | ||
| Drought | 55.9 | $133K | ||
| Wildfire | 71.5 | $119K | ||
| Ice storm | 64.5 | $100K | ||
| Winter weather | 18.7 | $10K | ||
| Landslide | 40.8 | $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
Most recent
Show all 32
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 10, 1975 | F4 | – | 200 / 4 |
| Dec 13, 1977 | F3 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Nov 11, 1962 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 31, 1981 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 12, 1986 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 10, 1975 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Dec 13, 1977 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 12, 2016 | Flash Flood | Terrys Creek | $440K |
| Nov 11, 1962 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Mar 31, 1981 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Nov 20, 1986 | Tornado | – | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 1969 | Camille | Category 4, 140 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Katrina | Category 2, 105 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 2, 1985 | Elena | Category 2, 100 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 30, 2021 | Ida | Category 1, 90 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 1, 1879 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 49 mi |
| Aug 20, 1888 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 62 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2024 | Francine | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 30, 2021 | Ida | Category 1, 90 mph | 59 mi |
| Jun 19, 2021 | Claudette | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 56 mi |
| Jun 8, 2020 | Cristobal | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Katrina | Category 2, 105 mph | 60 mi |
| Jun 30, 2003 | Bill | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 54 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Hinds County | Inland flooding | |
| Harrison County | Hurricane | |
| DeSoto County | Earthquake | |
| Rankin County | Inland flooding | |
| Jackson County | Hurricane | |
| Madison County | Inland flooding | |
| Lee County | Inland flooding | |
| Forrest County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Tangipahoa Parish, LA | 45 | |
| Washington Parish, LA | 39 | |
| Lincoln County | 30 | |
| Walthall County | 27 | |
| Amite County | 27 |
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.