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Tate County, Mississippi

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

Very Low overall risk
54th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$11Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Tate County, Mississippi has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 59% of US counties. It ranks 54th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, tornadoes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $406 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 38 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.5 million on 38 claims here.

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

Top risks in Tate County

$2.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 175 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$2.7 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeLow86.9
$3M
TornadoModerate74.9
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low26.5
$3M
Cold waveLow57.2
$1M
Heat waveLow76.3
$1M
Strong windLow28.3
$240K
LightningLow48.6
$196K
DroughtLow50.2
$130K
HailVery Low31.7
$114K
WildfireVery Low58.9
$69K
HurricaneVery Low45.8
$43K
Ice stormLow34.8
$36K
Winter weatherVery Low11.6
$8K
LandslideVery Low57.9
$2K

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 moderate 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 Tate County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Hurricane4
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1
Flood1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
Apr 16, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Dec 7, 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Feb 23, 2001Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 18, 1994Severe Winter Storm, Freeezing Rain and SleetMajor disaster
May 17, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor 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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 199 storm reports in Tate County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 17 injuries and about $4.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on December 23, 2015 near Tyro.

16tornadoes
59hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
92damaging thunderstorm winds
27floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 23, 2015EF4Tyro0 / 0
Apr 2, 2025EF3Linwood2 / 0
Nov 24, 2001F2Sarah5 / 0
May 29, 1975F2–0 / 0
Apr 8, 1980F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 2, 2025TornadoLinwood$2M
Nov 24, 2001TornadoSarah$500K
Mar 10, 2016Flash FloodSavage$300K
Dec 21, 2013Thunderstorm WindLinwood$250K
Mar 27, 2021TornadoIndependence$200K
Jul 30, 2009Flash FloodNew Gorden$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 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 9 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Tate County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 65 mph about 53 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
9tropical storms
1969most recent: Camille

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph53 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi
Jul 7, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph46 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph46 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Sep 20, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Jul 7, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 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 Tate County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (38 policies)
16.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.5 millionpaid on 38 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $410,375 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 Tate County

$209,000median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1992median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
29%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
20.5%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; 11,694 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
DeSoto CountyModerate14
Lafayette CountyLow19
Marshall CountyLow16
Panola CountyLow24
Tunica CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Tate County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tate County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Tate County, about $2.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Tate County had?

Tate County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Tate County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 54th 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 Tate County?

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

NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Tate County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on December 23, 2015 near Tyro. The weather service has also logged 59 hail reports and 27 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Tate County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 9 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Tate County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, 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.