Tunica County, Mississippi
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Tunica County, Mississippi has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 64% of US counties. It ranks 59th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $771 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 42 homes here carry federal flood insurance (71 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.9 million on 449 claims here, including $3.0 million for floods in 2011.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Tunica County
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 89.0 | $3M | ||
| Inland flooding | 23.9 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 59.5 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 73.6 | $418K | ||
| Heat wave | 61.2 | $400K | ||
| Cold wave | 35.9 | $361K | ||
| Strong wind | 27.6 | $175K | ||
| Hail | 27.4 | $70K | ||
| Ice storm | 53.4 | $65K | ||
| Lightning | 25.7 | $60K | ||
| Hurricane | 48.2 | $41K | ||
| Winter weather | 15.7 | $8K | ||
| Wildfire | 7.5 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 24.8 | $125 |
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 high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Tunica County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
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 155 storm reports in Tunica County since 1962, with 3 deaths and 13 injuries and about $1 billion in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 28, 1962.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 1962 | F2 | – | 5 / 1 |
| May 14, 1983 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Feb 22, 1975 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Mar 31, 2023 | EF1 | Tunica | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 21, 2013 | EF1 | Hamlin | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2011 | Flood | Jeffries | $1B |
| May 14, 1983 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Mar 10, 2016 | Flood | Robinsonsville | $2M |
| Jan 11, 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tunica | $500K |
| Jul 13, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tunica | $400K |
| Mar 31, 2023 | Tornado | Tunica | $300K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 15, 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 10 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Tunica County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 65 mph about 64 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 18, 1969 | Camille | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 16, 1923 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 55 mi |
| Sep 21, 1909 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 28, 1906 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 61 mi |
| Oct 3, 1860 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 65 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 1969 | Camille | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Jun 28, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 61 mi |
| Jun 17, 1934 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 20, 1932 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
| Oct 16, 1923 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 55 mi |
| Sep 21, 1909 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 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 Tunica 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 Tunica 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; 4,812 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 |
|---|---|---|
| DeSoto County | 14 | |
| Crittenden County, AR | 19 | |
| Panola County | 24 | |
| Tate County | 15 | |
| Coahoma County | 21 | |
| Phillips County, AR | 16 | |
| Lee County, AR | 16 | |
| Quitman County | 20 |
Common questions about Tunica County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Tunica County?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Tunica County, about $2.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Tunica County had?
Tunica County has been included in 16 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 Tunica County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 59th 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 Tunica County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 42 homes in Tunica 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 Tunica County had?
NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Tunica County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 28, 1962. The weather service has also logged 36 hail reports and 14 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Tunica County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 10 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Tunica 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.