Lamar County, MS Environment & Hazard Risk

• HurricaneRelatively Moderate$5.8M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 6 years
• WildfireRelatively Low$422K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 214 years
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$1.39M/yr expected annual loss, about 12 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$626K/yr expected annual loss, about 81 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$2.59M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$715K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.7 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$125K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• LandslideVery Low$2,533/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$68.5K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.6 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$306K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 866 years
• HailRelatively Low$276K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.5 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$729K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• DroughtRelatively Low$43.28K/yr expected annual loss, about 14 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

251 of 21,454 (1.2%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

311

Insured in high-risk zones

150 (48%)

Flood claims since 1978

399

Claims paid since 1978

$5.9M

• Thunderstorm Wind260
• Hail122
• Flash Flood89
• Tornado40 · 1 death
• Lightning13 · 1 death
• Drought10
• Tropical Storm9
• Heavy Snow7
• Flood5
• High Wind4

• Hurricane (Typhoon)08/29/2005

  Lamar

  10 injured, $480M 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...

• TornadoEF4, 7.55 mi path, 1,320 yd wide02/11/2013

  Oak Grove, Lamar County

  8 injured, $13.5M damage

  What happened

  The tornado started along Highway 589, where some limbs and small trees were blown down. It became intense rather quickly, producing significant damage as it moved through the West Lake Serene area. The tornado reached its maximum intensity in the area around and just southwest of Oak Grove High School where maximum winds were estimated at 170 mph, which is EF-4 strength. There was a brick home in a subdivision southwest of the high school, just west of old Highway 11, that was completely leveled with all interior and exterior walls down, and a fair amount of large debris was blown downstream. Additionally, very high end timber damage occurred in this location with a number of trees showing debarking and denuding. Several other homes in this subdivision also sustained EF-2 to EF-3 damage. As the tornado crossed old Highway 11, it produced extensive damage on the campus of Oak Grove High School. The field house adjoining the football stadium was destroyed, the baseball stadium and a large metal building adjoining the stadium were essentially destroyed, and several large steel/concrete light standards were snapped at both the baseball and football stadiums. A vehicle was thrown...

• TornadoF1, 17 mi path, 440 yd wide03/12/2001

  Oloh, Lamar County

  7 injured, $4.5M damage

• TornadoEF2, 5.63 mi path, 100 yd wide02/24/2016

  Baxterville, Lamar County

  1 death, $105K damage

  What happened

  The tornado began just southwest of Sones Road where it snapped a few limbs. The tornado continued northeast across Martin Bird Lane. The tornado was at its strongest at this point where it destroyed a double-wide mobile home. The debris from the mobile home was thrown nearly 125 yards from its original point. A car was also rolled approximately 75 yards. Two power poles were snapped along with a few trees at this location also. This location is where the fatality occurred. The tornado continued northeast across Beach Road where it snapped a few more trees. The tornado then continued northeast along Doc Johnson Road snapping a few trees along the way. This tornado damaged an outbuilding and also took the roof off of a chicken house along Doc Johnson Road. The tornado ended near Haden Road where it snapped a few more trees. Maximum estimated winds were 115 mph.

• Lightning06/27/2016

  Baxterville, Lamar County

  1 death

  What happened

  A 24 year old man was struck and killed by lightning as he and another man were standing outside of a residence near a truck.

• TornadoF3, 12.02 mi path, 500 yd wide11/15/2006

  Sumrall, Lamar County

  6 injured, $1.5M damage

  What happened

  This strong tornado touched down to the southwest of Sumrall and tracked east northeast across northern Lamar County and then into a small portion of extreme northwest Forrest County before dissipating. Approximately 25 homes were damaged, 16 of those suffering major damage or total destruction. The worst damage was along Old Salt Road, where a wood frame home on a concrete block foundation was totally destroyed, with the foundation cleared and the remnants of the home displaced dozens of yards away. A minivan was picked up and thrown/rolled a distance of approximately 150 yards, landing on top of a tractor and totally destroyed. Some large trees at this location were snapped at the base, denuded, and partially debarked. Heavy damage of F2 intensity was also observed along Foster Road, JD Hatten Road, and Rocky Branch road. Large swaths of trees were snapped and uprooted, and a few frame homes totally lost their roofs. Other damage along the path was weaker and generally of F1 intensity. The tornado then crossed Highway 42 and entered extreme northwest Forrest County. The total path length across Lamar and Forrest Counties was 13 miles.

• Flash Flood06/20/2026

  Talowah, Lamar County

  $1,000 damage

• Drought05/01/2026

  Lamar

• Hail1" hail04/27/2026

  Okahola, Lamar County

• Hail1.25" hail04/27/2026

  Okahola, Lamar County

• Hail1.5" hail04/27/2026

  Oak Grove, Lamar County

• Hail1" hail04/26/2026

  Oak Grove, Lamar County

• Hail1" hail04/25/2026

  Oak Grove, Lamar County

• Hail1" hail04/25/2026

  Oloh, Lamar County

• Tropical Storm Claudette (2021)06/18/2021 · Landfall: LA · 1,003 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
• Hurricane Katrina (2005)08/24/2005 · Landfall: FL, LA · 902 mbCategory 3121 mph nearby
• Tropical Storm Bill (2003)06/28/2003 · Landfall: LA · 997 mbTropical storm52 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1948)09/02/1948 · Landfall: LA · 983 mbTropical storm69 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1912)06/07/1912 · Landfall: LATropical storm58 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1893)09/04/1893 · Landfall: LATropical storm63 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1886)06/13/1886 · Landfall: TXTropical storm40 mph nearby

• West Lamar Water Assn #1Serves 18,491 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• North Lamar Water AssociationServes 12,778 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Lamar Park Water & Sewage AssnServes 7,714 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Progress Comm Water AssnServes 7,017 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations
• Arnold Line Water AssociationServes 6,600 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• North Lumberton Utility AssnServes 4,071 · Groundwater · Public and private1 health violation+2 monitoring or reporting
• Canebrake Utility Assoc INCServes 2,619 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• City of PurvisServes 2,590 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+6 monitoring or reporting