Scott County, MS Environment & Hazard Risk

• HailRelatively Moderate$1.1M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.6 events a year
• HurricaneRelatively Moderate$1.4M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 9 years
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$2.3M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$748K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.8 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$654K/yr expected annual loss, about 12 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$295K/yr expected annual loss, about 72 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$434K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 503 years
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$119K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$1.1M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• DroughtRelatively Low$195K/yr expected annual loss, about 15 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$43.7K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.5 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$19.4K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,091 years
• LandslideVery Low$326/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years

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

49 of 10,674 (0.5%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

237

Insured in high-risk zones

36 (15%)

Flood claims since 1978

36

Claims paid since 1978

$1.1M

• Thunderstorm Wind265 · 1 death
• Hail106
• Flash Flood59 · 1 death
• Tornado49
• Drought16
• Heavy Snow9
• Strong Wind7
• Ice Storm6
• Heat4
• Winter Weather3

• Hurricane (Typhoon)08/29/2005

  Scott

  $145M 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...

• Flash Flood04/07/2003

  Countywide, Scott County

  1 death, $50M damage

  What happened

  Continued heavy rains dumped 7 to 12 inches of rain over Scott county. Numerous roads were flooded with several feet of water covering the the roads. This very large amount of water washed out numerous roads and bridges. Due to a washed out bridge, one person was killed when he drove his car into flooded waters around 1:30 am April 7. In addition to the flooded roads, dozens of businesses and homes were flooded across the county.

• Thunderstorm Wind87 kt wind04/10/2024

  Forest, Scott County

  1 death, 7 injured, $1.5M damage

  What happened

  A line of severe thunderstorms produced a swath of significant damaging winds starting northeast of Forest in Scotty County. In this swath, thousands of trees and numerous power lines and power poles were blown down. Trees were uprooted and snapped. Over 50 homes were damaged by both fallen trees and wind, including 32 which suffered major damage or were destroyed. Several mobile homes were rolled and destroyed. Several sheds and garages were also destroyed. There were five injuries including two in mobile homes on Towner Road and McMillan Road and and three in a house on Jim Owens Road. The peak of the damage occurred just west of Salem road near Old Highway 80 north of Lake where tree damage was extensive and estimated peak winds were 100 mph. Damage continued into Newton County and through the south side of Conehatta where estimated peak winds decreased to around 85 mph with numerous trees uprooted. The significant wind damage ended northwest of Decatur. The swath length was over 15 miles across both counties, and its width varied between three to five miles. A 64-year old woman in the Harperville area died from health complications after power was lost at her home, and...

• Hail1.75" hail03/18/2013

  Morton, Scott County

  $5M damage

  What happened

  A swath of quarter to golf ball size hail fell west of Morton to just south of Forest. Numerous vehicle windows were blown out and several roofs were damaged by the hail.

• TornadoEF3, 4.27 mi path, 150 yd wide04/29/2014

  Forest, Scott County

  3 injured, $700K damage

  What happened

  This tornado developed just east of Forest, and quickly became intense along Old Highway 80. Just south of this road, it nearly destroyed a wood frame home, downing all but the most interior walls and carrying the debris away from the foundation. Three people were injured in this home, one seriously. It also completely destroyed a chicken house and also carried that debris well away. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted in this area as well. Shortly after causing this damage...the tornado weakened, and it dissipated after crossing Mcmillan Road. Maximum winds were around 140 mph.

• TornadoEF3, 7.59 mi path, 880 yd wide10/18/2012

  Steel, Scott County

  1 injured, $1.5M damage

  What happened

  This tornado began along Old Jackson Road east of Hillsboro. Initially the tornado tracked southeast downing multiple trees as it crossed Harrison Road and MS Highway 21. There were also a few homes with roof damage in this area and outbuildings were damaged by fallen trees. The tornado then began a more easterly course along Greer Road and began to snap and uproot several additional trees as it crossed Ephesus Road, Langsmill Road, and Russell Community Road. Along Russell Community Road multiple trees fell on structures, including one that fell through a home causing an injury. The tornado continued eastward, downing additional trees and caused minor roof damage at a residence on George Road.||As the tornado reached the Lewis Road area, there was a notable increase in the number of hardwood trees that were snapped along the path. Along the northern end of the track, part of the roof of a small barn was removed. Extensive tree damage continued to the Salem Road area, where the tornado reached its peak intensity of around 140 mph. At this location, three large steel transmission towers were bent toward the ground between Salem Road and Jim Owens Road. Along Jim Owens Road, a...

• Sebastopol Water AssociationServes 6,207 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• City of ForestServes 5,430 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• City of MortonServes 3,400 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• H & H Water System, INCServes 3,036 · Groundwater · Public and private1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
• Steele-Ringgold W/A #1Serves 2,965 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Steele-Ringgold W/A #2Serves 2,883 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
• Homewood Water AssociationServes 1,877 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• C & C W/AServes 1,808 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations