Simpson County, MS Environment & Hazard Risk

• HurricaneRelatively Low$1.5M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 9 years
• HailRelatively Moderate$597K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.7 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$2.5M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$724K/yr expected annual loss, about 14 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$588K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.9 events a year
• LandslideRelatively Low$2,422/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• DroughtRelatively Low$181K/yr expected annual loss, about 10 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Low$82K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
• LightningRelatively Low$211K/yr expected annual loss, about 75 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$31.7K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 771 years
• Cold waveRelatively Low$587K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• EarthquakeVery Low$146K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 710 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$36.1K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.2 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

68 of 12,023 (0.6%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

609

Insured in high-risk zones

54 (9%)

Flood claims since 1978

246

Claims paid since 1978

$2.6M

• Thunderstorm Wind244 · 1 death
• Hail126
• Tornado50
• Flash Flood38
• Drought15
• Flood8
• Heavy Snow7
• Strong Wind5
• Ice Storm4
• Heat4

• Hurricane (Typhoon)08/29/2005

  Simpson

  1 death, $140M 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...

• TornadoEF3, 16.19 mi path, 500 yd wide03/26/2009

  Jaynesville, Simpson County

  25 injured, $5M damage

  What happened

  The tornado first touched down just north of Mount Zion Road in Southwest Simpson County and continued northeast through the northwest side of Magee and then across the Smith County line before lifting near South County Road 503. Along the path, 60 homes were damaged or destroyed. A large, well-built church was destroyed. A warehouse was significantly damaged and a radio tower was snapped. Hundreds of hardwood and softwood trees were snapped and uprooted. The highest winds occurred at the church and nearby houses and trees just southwest of Magee along and just off Highway 28. Maximum winds were around 150 mph.||The EF3 rating was in Simpson County while the highest rated damage in Smith County was EF1. Total path length across both counties was near 18 miles.

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind06/05/2024

  Saratoga, Simpson County

  1 death, $500K damage

  What happened

  A 55-foot tall mobile oil well tower was blown over near MS Highway 28 and Mangum Garner Road. A 24-year old male worker on the tower died when the tower blew over.

• TornadoEF2, 1.81 mi path, 500 yd wide01/19/2017

  Saratoga, Simpson County

  1 injured, $2M damage

  What happened

  This tornado touched down just east of Magee along Highway 28 at the intersection of Pine Grove Road. The tornado snapped a few trees here, then quickly grew and intensified. In the first half to 1 mile along Pine Grove Road, numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along with power lines being knocked down and some power poles snapped. Multiple homes had minor to moderate roof damage and most|of these were along the edge of the tornado. However, there were a few that were more directly in the path. These sustained heavier damage with one home completely destroyed. The roof was blown off along with most of the outer wall off. Here peak intensity was reached with winds estimated at 120 mph. Multiple sheds or large|barn type structures were heavily damaged or destroyed in this area as well. High end EF1 damage continued through the remainder of Simpson County where the tornado crossed C Stringer Road, Pine Grove Road again, and County Road 65 before moving into Smith County. Once in Smith County, most of the damage was from downed trees. The heaviest damage occurred as it crossed County Road 65 and County Road 108 where dozens of trees and several power lines were downed. A...

• TornadoF1, 8 mi path, 440 yd wide11/07/1996

  Martinville, Simpson County

  2 injured, $50K damage

  What happened

  This weak tornado first touched down in Simpson county and then moved into Smith county. The total length of the tornado was 13 miles long. Several mobile homes were damaged along the path of the tornado along with numerous trees being blown down. Two elderly people were injured when the tornado blew over their mobile home.

• TornadoF2, 24 mi path, 200 yd wide11/24/2004

  Shivers, Simpson County

  $1.5M damage

  What happened

  This tornado continued out of northern Lawrence county and moved into southwest Simpson county 5 miles southwest of the Shivers community. As this tornado tracked northeast, several hundred trees were uprooted and snapped. Several chicken houses sustained major damage along with a few totally destroyed. Three homes sustained major damage and nine mobile homes sustained major damage. This tornado tracked across several highways including State Highway 28 and 13. This tornado also crossed US Highway 49, 4 miles northwest of Magee. Here the tornado severely damaged the VFW Post 9122 building and rolled over an RV. This tornado weakened as moved a little more northeast and dissipated 4 miles north of Magee.

• Okatoma Water Association #2Serves 5,866 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations
• Smiths Crossing Water AssnServes 4,480 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Okatoma Water Association #1Serves 3,981 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• City of MageeServes 3,526 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+6 monitoring or reporting
• New Hope Water AssociationServes 2,587 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations
• City of MendenhallServes 2,500 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Highway 28 Water AssociationServes 2,500 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Shivers Water AssociationServes 2,200 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations