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Tunica County, Mississippi

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

Very Low overall risk
59th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$8Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 42homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

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

$2.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 160 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$1.9 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.
$1.1 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeLow89.0
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low23.9
$2M
TornadoLow59.5
$1M
DroughtModerate73.6
$418K
Heat waveLow61.2
$400K
Cold waveLow35.9
$361K
Strong windLow27.6
$175K
HailVery Low27.4
$70K
Ice stormLow53.4
$65K
LightningLow25.7
$60K
HurricaneVery Low48.2
$41K
Winter weatherVery Low15.7
$8K
WildfireVery Low7.5
$2K
LandslideVery Low24.8
$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

Severe Storm5
Flood4
Hurricane4
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1

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
May 11, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2011FloodingEmergency
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Show all 16
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Dec 7, 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 13, 1997FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 18, 1994Severe Winter Storm, Freeezing Rain and SleetMajor 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 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.

13tornadoes
36hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
91damaging thunderstorm winds
14floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 28, 1962F2–5 / 1
May 14, 1983F2–2 / 0
Feb 22, 1975F2–3 / 0
Mar 31, 2023EF1Tunica0 / 0
Dec 21, 2013EF1Hamlin1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2011FloodJeffries$1B
May 14, 1983Tornado–$3M
Mar 10, 2016FloodRobinsonsville$2M
Jan 11, 2020Thunderstorm WindTunica$500K
Jul 13, 2003Thunderstorm WindTunica$400K
Mar 31, 2023TornadoTunica$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
10tropical storms
1969most recent: Camille

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Sep 20, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 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 ›
2.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (71 policies)
16.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.9 millionpaid on 449 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $3 million 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 Tunica County

$175,900median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1994median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
29%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
22%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; 4,812 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
Crittenden County, ARModerate19
Panola CountyLow24
Tate CountyVery Low15
Coahoma CountyLow21
Phillips County, ARLow16
Lee County, ARVery Low16
Quitman CountyVery Low20

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.