Issaquena County, MS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Issaquena County has experienced 27 federally declared disasters since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Issaquena County's highest-rated hazards are drought, hurricane, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (95th 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. Issaquena County has been designated in 27 declarations since 1971, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (10), hurricane (6), flood (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 total declarations since 1971.
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 | 4.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 10.2 | 1 | 0 | $9K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 37.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 21.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 29.4 | 6 | 0 | $105K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 60.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 44.7 | 3 | 0 | $56K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 15.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 6.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 47.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 15.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 6.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 86 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 9 | 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
Issaquena County ranks in the 95th 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 | 95th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 99th | High |
| Household characteristics | 8th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 97th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 100th | 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 | 31st | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 30th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 63.0% | — |
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 Issaquena County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Issaquena County, Mississippi are drought, hurricane, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Issaquena County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Issaquena County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Issaquena County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Issaquena County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1971.
How does Issaquena 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 West Carroll Parish, LA has the lowest (Very Low). Issaquena County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Issaquena County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Issaquena 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. Issaquena County's composite score of 8 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 8% of US counties.