Holmes County, MS Environment & Hazard Risk

• DroughtRelatively Moderate$671K/yr expected annual loss, about 15 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$2.5M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• HailRelatively Low$350K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.5 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$577K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.9 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$293K/yr expected annual loss, about 67 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$1.3M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$505K/yr expected annual loss, about 17 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$436K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 356 years
• HurricaneRelatively Low$238K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 14 years
• LandslideRelatively Low$1,936/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Ice stormRelatively Low$69.8K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$40.7K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 882 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$32.4K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.2 events a year

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

26 of 6,697 (0.4%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

399

Insured in high-risk zones

19 (5%)

Flood claims since 1978

117

Claims paid since 1978

$1.4M

• Thunderstorm Wind180
• Hail76
• Tornado38 · 3 deaths
• Flash Flood27
• Drought19
• Heavy Snow8
• Ice Storm7
• Strong Wind6 · 1 death
• Heat4
• Winter Weather3

• TornadoEF4, 21.25 mi path, 2,600 yd wide04/24/2010

  Zeiglerville, Holmes County

  1 death, 40 injured, $64M damage

  What happened

  The tornado continued northeast into rural southern Holmes County, causing intense tree damage and damaging or destroying a number of rural residences. The damage across this area was in the EF3 range. As the tornado moved by the Franklin Community, in rural Holmes county, it again reached EF4 intensity. It completely destroyed two brick homes and heavily damaged or destroyed a number of other homes. The tornado then crossed Interstate 55, causing significant tree damage and blowing a number of vehicles off the road. As the tornado approached the area just south of Durant and crossed US Highway 51, it narrowed and reached one of its weakest points. One fatality occurred in Holmes County.

• Hurricane (Typhoon)08/29/2005

  Holmes

  $16M damage

  What happened

  Hurricane Katrina will likely go down as the worst and costliest natural disaster in United States history. The amount of destruction, the cost of damaged property/agriculture and the large loss of life across the affected region has been overwhelming. Catastrophic damage was widespread across a large portion of the Gulf Coast region. The devastation was not only confined to the coastal region, widespread and significant damage occurred well inland up to the Hattiesburg area and northward past Interstate 20. This hurricane has changed life as we know it across the Gulf Coast region which will take many years to return to normal.Hurricane Katrina was a very large and powerful storm which set several unfortunate records. This storm began as Tropical Depression 12 during the late afternoon and evening of August 23rd. The storm slowly moved northwest, became more organized, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm during the late morning of August 24th as it moved across the Central Bahamas. The Tropical Storm continued to become better organized as it moved slowly west toward Southern Florida. Katrina became a Category 1 Hurricane late in the afternoon on August 25th just before moving...

• TornadoEF2, 18.32 mi path, 1,900 yd wide04/30/2017

  Pickens, Holmes County

  1 death, $4.2M damage

  What happened

  This strong tornado started several miles west of Pickens off Highway 432 and tracked Northeast for roughly 23 miles. The tornado impacted areas west of Goodman, Holmes County State Park and a direct hit on the town of Durant. The tornado was very wide and was roughly 1.2 miles wide at its widest point. Across the entire path, thousands of trees were damaged/uprooted/snapped. Hundreds of power poles and power lines were down as well. The large majority of structures that were damaged were indicated by minor to moderate roof damage with singles/siding torn off to partial loss of decking. Multiple structures were more heavily damaged by trees falling on them. Some of the more significant tree and structural damage occurred along Courts Road, Salem Road, Ebenezer Pickens Road and Jordan Road. Four mobile homes were destroyed along Jordan Road, including a new, well secured, mobile home. Significant tree damage also occurred along Highway 51 and along State Park Road just west of Highway 51. The town of Durant took a direct hit. Many buildings and homes sustained minor to moderate roof damage. A few less sound structures were destroyed. Numerous power lines were also down. The...

• TornadoF2, 4 mi path, 500 yd wide02/16/2001

  Goodman, Holmes County

  1 death, 1 injured, $50K damage

  What happened

  The tornado formed about 1.4 miles west of interstate 55 at mile marker 150, then tracked eastward. As the tornado tracked eastward across Interstate 55, an eighteen wheeler truck was overturned. The tornado continued to track eastward across Holmes County State Park, where many trees were blown down and several cabins were damaged. A woman caught in the storm at the State Park was killed when her car was blown on top of her after she had abandoned the vehicle to take refuge in a ditch. The tornado then moved eastward to a point just north of the highway 51/424 intersection and dissipated.

• Strong Wind40 kt wind08/30/2012

  Holmes

  1 death, $30K damage

  What happened

  A few trees were blown down across the county due to strong winds on the periphery of Tropical Storm Isaac. A woman was killed when a tree fell on her car on North Street in Lexington.

• Flash Flood06/10/1997

  Lexington, Holmes County

  $10M damage

  What happened

  Over six inches of rain fell in Lexington in a little over three hours. The heavy rain caused Bear creek to over flow and flood much of the town of Lexington. Forty five business were affected by the flooding and thirty of these suffered major losses. As many as 300 homes had water damage.

• City of DurantServes 2,932 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Lebanon W/A-WestServes 1,742 · Groundwater · Public and private1 health violation+9 monitoring or reporting
• Sweet Home Water & Sewer DistServes 1,695 · Groundwater · Local government3 health violations+6 monitoring or reporting
• Town of TchulaServes 1,642 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• City of LexingtonServes 1,600 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Town of PickensServes 1,587 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
• Acona Water Association #1Serves 1,373 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+8 monitoring or reporting
• West Holmes Water AssociationServes 1,245 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+10 monitoring or reporting