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Webster County, Mississippi

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

Very Low overall risk
78th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$4Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Webster County, Mississippi has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 87% of US counties. It ranks 78th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $3.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $394 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $109,000 on 24 claims here.

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

Top risks in Webster County

$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
$844,493 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$455,914 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 floodingVery Low13.4
$1M
TornadoLow48.4
$844K
Cold waveLow38.9
$456K
EarthquakeLow63.4
$394K
Heat waveLow46.2
$222K
DroughtLow61.3
$221K
Strong windLow25.3
$172K
HailLow43.5
$148K
LightningLow41.1
$120K
HurricaneVery Low55.4
$90K
Ice stormLow42.7
$44K
WildfireVery Low23.7
$7K
Winter weatherVery Low3.2
$2K
LandslideVery Low42.3
$564

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 Webster County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Hurricane5
Severe Ice Storm2
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1
Tornado1

Most recent

Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
May 4, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Apr 16, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 22, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Show all 20
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
May 23, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes and High WindsMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2001Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1999Severe Winter Storms, Ice and Freezing RainMajor disaster
Nov 25, 1992Severe Storms, High Winds & TornadoesMajor disaster
May 17, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 3, 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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 270 storm reports in Webster County since 1956, with 4 deaths and 33 injuries and about $13.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 20, 1976.

17tornadoes
66hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
159damaging thunderstorm winds
25floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 20, 1976F3–5 / 1
Apr 27, 2011EF3Mathiston15 / 0
Nov 26, 1973F3–5 / 0
Apr 27, 2011EF2Sapa5 / 1
Nov 22, 1992F1–0 / 2

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 27, 2011TornadoMathiston$4M
Nov 26, 1973Tornado–$3M
Apr 27, 2011TornadoSapa$1M
May 2, 2010Flash FloodEupora$800K
Feb 27, 2009Flash FloodClarkson$500K
Jul 14, 2005Flash FloodMathiston$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 18 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Webster County, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Camille (1969), with top winds near 65 mph about 64 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
18tropical storms
2005most recent: Katrina

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Sep 2, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 2005KatrinaTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Sep 13, 1979FredericTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Aug 31, 1950BakerTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Sep 5, 1948UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 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 Webster County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
8.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$108,563paid on 24 flood claims since 1978
1983costliest year, with $47,265 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 Webster County

$120,100median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.9%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; 5,114 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
Oktibbeha CountyLow17
Grenada CountyLow25
Clay CountyVery Low25
Chickasaw CountyLow21
Calhoun CountyVery Low20
Montgomery CountyVery Low19
Choctaw CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Webster County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Webster County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Webster County, about $1.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $844,493.

How many federal disasters has Webster County had?

Webster County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Webster County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 78th 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 Webster County?

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

NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Webster County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 20, 1976. The weather service has also logged 66 hail reports and 25 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Webster County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 18 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Webster County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Camille (1969), 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.