Sunflower County
Mississippi — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 70th
Sunflower County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 69.6, 70th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $18M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | High | 1.26 / yr | $5M |
| Drought | Medium | 12.62 / yr | $962K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.58 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 17.84 / yr | $864K |
| Hail | Medium | 2.88 / yr | $476K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.05 / yr | $529K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.86 / yr | $119K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.21 / yr | $520K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.29 / yr | $5M |
| Lightning | Low | 63.67 / yr | $158K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $88 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.32 / yr | $8K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Sunflower County?
Sunflower County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 69.6 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 70th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Sunflower County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (High, $5M EAL), Drought (Medium, $962K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Sunflower County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Sunflower County ranks #21 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Sunflower County's $18M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.