Kemper County, MS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Kemper County has experienced 21 federally declared disasters since 1974, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Kemper County's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, tornado, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 22 storm events in the county over the past decade. 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. Kemper County has been designated in 21 declarations since 1974, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (7), severe storm (5), winter storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaac |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Associated Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 total declarations since 1974.
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 | 25.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 9.4 | 6 | 0 | $40K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 49.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 50.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 56.4 | 7 | 0 | $1.6M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 65.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 33.8 | 8 | 0 | $65K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 46.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 22.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 47.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 51.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 40.3 | 1 | 0 | $20K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 55.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 51.2 | 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
Kemper 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 | 96th | High |
| Household characteristics | 71st | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 95th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 90th | 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 | 48th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 45th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 95.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 22 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 11 in 2016–20 vs 11 in 2021–25 (0% — relatively stable).
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 Kemper County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Kemper County, Mississippi are hurricane, tornado, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Kemper County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Kemper County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (7 declarations).
Has Kemper County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Kemper County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1974.
How does Kemper County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lauderdale County, MS has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Noxubee County, MS has the lowest (Very Low). Kemper County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Kemper County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Kemper 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. Kemper County's composite score of 15 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 15% of US counties.