Natural Disasters in Columbus, MS

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

80.9

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

75.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

76.0

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

64.9

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Tornado91.0Cold Wave89.8Earthquake88.6

Hazard	Risk Score
Tornado	91.0
Cold Wave	89.8
Earthquake	88.6
Heat Wave	87.3
Strong Wind	85.7
Lightning	79.2
Ice Storm	76.7
Hail	74.7
Hurricane	72.8
Drought	72.6
Landslide	45.7
Wildfire	36.9
Winter Weather	22.1

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

10 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 24, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Oct 22, 2021	Hurricane	HURRICANE IDA
Aug 28, 2021	Hurricane	HURRICANE IDA
Apr 5, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Apr 23, 2019	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Apr 30, 2014	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Aug 30, 2008	Hurricane	HURRICANE GUSTAV
Aug 29, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA
Jul 10, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE DENNIS
Sep 15, 2004	Hurricane	HURRICANE IVAN
May 23, 2003	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES AND HIGH WINDS
Nov 14, 2002	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES
Feb 23, 2001	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES
Jan 25, 1999	Severe Ice Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS, ICE AND FREEZING RAIN
Oct 17, 1992	Tornado	WIND STORMS, TORNADOES & HAIL
May 17, 1991	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING
Mar 5, 1991	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Jan 3, 1991	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING
Jun 1, 1983	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING

Showing 20 of 22 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

5,069

Total IA Distributed

$5,431,635

Repair/Replace

$834,150

Rental Assistance

$653,840

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4494	1	N/A	—
DR-1443	1,038	$1,877,558	$4,725
DR-4528	287	$1,734,548	—
DR-1604	2,334	$1,037,413	$428
DR-4429	450	$413,943	$2,310
DR-4175	950	$347,202	$873
DR-1470	8	$11,971	$624
DR-4501	1	$9,000	—

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

1,186

Total Claims Paid

$7,242,328

Avg Claim Payout

$6,107

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$33,577,300

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

202

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4429	Other	21	$12,111,128
DR-1360	Severe Storm(s)	32	$8,539,501
DR-1443	Severe Storm(s)	38	$4,764,976
DR-4175	Severe Storm(s)	7	$1,853,771
DR-1604	Hurricane	35	$1,606,047
DR-1972	Severe Storm(s)	5	$1,339,502
DR-4528	Biological	18	$1,013,184
DR-1265	Severe Ice Storm	6	$627,787
DR-4598	Winter Storm	5	$558,929
DR-4536	Severe Storm(s)	5	$338,521
DR-1550	Hurricane	12	$321,589
DR-1906	Severe Storm(s)	2	$276,518
DR-4470	Severe Storm(s)	4	$93,529
DR-4450	Other	4	$69,153
DR-1594	Hurricane	8	$63,163

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$1,085,233

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

9.45

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures	3	$0
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)	3	$534,921
403.1: Stormwater Management - Culverts	2	$180,000
601.1: Generators	2	$145,702
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	1	$211,098

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Columbus has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are tornado, cold wave, earthquake. The area has had 22 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (10 declarations). 1,186 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $33,577,300 in public assistance recovery funding. $5,431,635 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 13 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.