Natural Disasters in Starkville, MS

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

62.8

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

59.0

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

63.2

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

52.8

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Earthquake85.1Tornado83.3Heat Wave81.2

Hazard	Risk Score
Earthquake	85.1
Tornado	83.3
Heat Wave	81.2
Cold Wave	79.2
Hail	77.3
Lightning	73.8
Ice Storm	70.8
Hurricane	69.2
Winter Weather	64.4
Strong Wind	62.6
Drought	53.1
Landslide	46.5
Wildfire	37.7

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

8 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
Mar 12, 2020	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Dec 6, 2019	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORM, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Jun 20, 2019	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Apr 29, 2010	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
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
May 17, 1991	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING
Apr 16, 1979	Severe Storm	STORMS, TORNADOES, FLOODS

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

1,536

Total IA Distributed

$1,891,728

Repair/Replace

$453,932

Rental Assistance

$252,311

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-1604	1,303	$1,069,680	$598
DR-4528	117	$647,490	—
DR-1906	68	$153,913	$2,070
DR-1443	47	$18,645	$309
DR-1603	1	$2,000	—

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

Total Claims Paid

$678,064

Avg Claim Payout

$15,411

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$6,530,611

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

211

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-1360	Severe Storm(s)	68	$3,053,348
DR-1604	Hurricane	94	$2,137,518
DR-4450	Other	10	$331,679
DR-4478	Severe Storm(s)	4	$251,219
DR-4528	Biological	6	$223,127
DR-1265	Severe Ice Storm	3	$185,968
DR-4727	Severe Storm(s)	9	$161,426
DR-1550	Hurricane	10	$110,811
DR-4470	Severe Storm(s)	5	$57,082
DR-1443	Severe Storm(s)	1	$12,936
DR-1594	Hurricane	1	$5,497

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$3,862,028

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

74.95

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)	6	$157,110
601.2: Generators - Regular	2	$0
206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures	2	$2,693,426
601.1: Generators	2	$479,204
92.1: State Multihazard Mitigation Plan	1	$117,283

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

Starkville has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are earthquake, tornado, heat wave. The area has had 18 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (8 declarations). 44 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $6,530,611 in public assistance recovery funding. $1,891,728 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 15 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.