Winston County, MS
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Winston County has experienced 18 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Winston County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, strong wind, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" 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 (85th 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. Winston County has been designated in 18 declarations since 1977, covering 6 disaster types including hurricane (7), severe storm (4), 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 |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaac |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Associated Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 total declarations since 1977.
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 | 35.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 22.2 | 21 | 0 | $2.6M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 68.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 63.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 79.2 | 16 | 0 | $638K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 72.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 66.4 | 21 | 0 | $1.2M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 77.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 44.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 59.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 60.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 52.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 58.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 47.7 | 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
Winston County ranks in the 85th 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 | 85th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 86th | High |
| Household characteristics | 84th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 87th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 60th | Moderate |
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 | 55th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 51st | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 90.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 58 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 33 in 2016–20 vs 25 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 Winston County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Winston County, Mississippi are tornado, strong wind, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Winston County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Winston County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (7 declarations).
Has Winston County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Winston County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does Winston County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Oktibbeha County, MS has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Choctaw County, MS has the lowest (Very Low). Winston County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Winston County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Winston 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. Winston County's composite score of 40 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 40% of US counties.