Hinds County, MS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hinds County has experienced 27 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Hinds County's highest-rated hazards are hail, tornado, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 24% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (92nd 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. Hinds County has been designated in 27 declarations since 1969, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (10), severe storm (8), winter storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2022 | Other | Water Crisis |
| 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 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 | Very Low | 54.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 95.1 | 104 | 0 | $6.1M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 90.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 97.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 98.2 | 44 | 0 | $4.3M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 86.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very High | 99.3 | 42 | 0 | $18.0M |
| Strong Wind | Very High | 98.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 92.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 95.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 89.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 94 | 6 | 0 | $370K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 80.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 78.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Hinds County ranks in the 92nd 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 | 92nd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 94th | High |
| Household characteristics | 57th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 98th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 86th | 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 | 49th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 46th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 47.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 195 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 111 in 2016–20 vs 84 in 2021–25 (-24% — 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 Hinds County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hinds County, Mississippi are hail, tornado, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Hinds County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hinds County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (10 declarations).
Has Hinds County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Hinds County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1969.
How does Hinds County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Warren County, MS has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Claiborne County, MS has the lowest (Very Low). Hinds County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Hinds County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hinds 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. Hinds County's composite score of 94 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 94% of US counties.