Tunica County, MS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Tunica County has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Tunica County's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, drought, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 203% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (96th 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. Tunica County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (5), flood (4), hurricane (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Associated Flooding |
| 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 total declarations since 1973.
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 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 23.9 | 6 | 0 | $1.7M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 89 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 61.2 | 115 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 59.5 | 2 | 0 | $300K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 48.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 27.4 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 27.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 15.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 53.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 35.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 25.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 73.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 24.8 | 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
Tunica County ranks in the 96th 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 | 96th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 100th | High |
| Household characteristics | 29th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 98th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 97th | 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 | 35th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 33rd | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 33.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 129 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 32 in 2016–20 vs 97 in 2021–25 (+203% — frequency increasing).
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 Tunica County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Tunica County, Mississippi are earthquake, drought, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Tunica County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Tunica County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Tunica County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Tunica County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Tunica County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, DeSoto County, MS has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Quitman County, MS has the lowest (Very Low). Tunica County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Tunica County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Tunica 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. Tunica County's composite score of 36 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 36% of US counties.