Home › Mississippi › Union County

Union County, Mississippi

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

Relatively Low overall risk
51st of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$11Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Union County, Mississippi has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 56% of US counties. It ranks 51st of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $379 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 15 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $504,000 on 19 claims here.

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

Top risks in Union County

$3.5 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.
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 235 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow38.1
$3M
EarthquakeLow85.1
$2M
Cold waveModerate73.0
$2M
TornadoLow47.4
$862K
Heat waveLow72.1
$765K
Strong windModerate68.2
$699K
LightningModerate61.5
$270K
HurricaneLow62.0
$192K
HailVery Low29.1
$87K
DroughtLow45.4
$78K
Ice stormLow43.3
$48K
WildfireVery Low47.3
$31K
Winter weatherVery Low13.6
$8K
LandslideLow66.7
$3K

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 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 Union County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Hurricane4
Winter Storm2
Tornado1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
Apr 23, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
May 14, 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Show all 17
Feb 23, 2001Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1999Severe Winter Storms, Ice and Freezing RainMajor disaster
Feb 18, 1994Severe Winter Storm, Freeezing Rain and SleetMajor disaster
May 17, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1984TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 27, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 303 storm reports in Union County since 1950, with 6 deaths and 35 injuries and about $33.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 21, 1984.

27tornadoes
103hail reports, largest 3 inches
137damaging thunderstorm winds
31floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 21, 1984F3–2 / 1
Jan 21, 1959F3–0 / 0
Mar 17, 1965F3–3 / 0
Mar 1, 1997F3Ingomar16 / 0
Jan 3, 2000F3Pinedale4 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 21, 1984Tornado–$25M
Apr 5, 2025TornadoFlatwood$2M
May 2, 2010Flash FloodJericho$1M
May 27, 2017Thunderstorm WindNew Albany Union Arp$500K
Jan 21, 1959Tornado–$250K
Mar 17, 1965Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 29, 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 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Union County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 58 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
2005most recent: Katrina

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph58 mi
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Jul 7, 1916UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Aug 29, 1881UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph45 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Sep 20, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph36 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 Union County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (15 policies)
6.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$503,825paid on 19 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $231,911 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 Union County

$163,400median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
43%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
21.2%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; 12,250 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
Lee CountyModerate20
Lafayette CountyLow19
Marshall CountyLow16
Pontotoc CountyLow18
Prentiss CountyLow20
Tippah CountyLow18
Benton CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Union County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Union County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Union County, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Union County had?

Union County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Union County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 51st 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 Union County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Union 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 Union County had?

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Union County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 21, 1984. The weather service has also logged 103 hail reports and 31 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Union County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Union County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 60 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.