George County, MS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
George County has experienced 34 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
George County's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, wildfire, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 38% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (84th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. George County has been designated in 34 declarations since 1969, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (21), severe storm (5), flood (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Arthur |
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
Showing the 10 most recent of 34 total declarations since 1969.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | 75.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 31.2 | 11 | 3 | $2.3M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 16.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 28.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 50.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 49.6 | 12 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 92.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 32.8 | 12 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 31.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 14.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 26.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 24.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 67.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 52.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 28.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
George County ranks in the 84th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 90th | High |
| Household characteristics | 73rd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 40th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 76th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 86th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 83rd | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 95.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 34 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 21 in 2016–20 vs 13 in 2021–25 (-38% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in George County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in George County, Mississippi are hurricane, wildfire, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has George County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. George County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (21 declarations).
Has George County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for George County include Tropical Storm Arthur (2026), Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1969.
How does George County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Mobile County, AL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Perry County, MS has the lowest (Very Low). George County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is George County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
George County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. George County's composite score of 58 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 58% of US counties.