Wayne County, MS Environment & Hazard Risk

• HurricaneRelatively Moderate$4.7M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 6 years
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$1.8M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$1.2M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$248K/yr expected annual loss, about 77 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$48.4K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 600 years
• LandslideVery Low$1,442/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Heat waveRelatively Low$337K/yr expected annual loss, about 8.4 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$234K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 656 years
• DroughtRelatively Low$123K/yr expected annual loss, about 11 events a year
• HailRelatively Low$191K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.2 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Low$237K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.7 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Low$22.4K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$17.6K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.4 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 7,766 (0.3%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

459

Insured in high-risk zones

17 (4%)

Flood claims since 1978

53

Claims paid since 1978

$850K

• Thunderstorm Wind106
• Hail47
• Tornado35
• Flash Flood30
• Winter Storm6
• Lightning4
• Hurricane (Typhoon)4
• Drought3
• Heat2
• Tropical Storm2

• TornadoEF2, 3.98 mi path, 150 yd wide03/05/2025

  Whistler, Wayne County

  4 injured

  What happened

  The tornado began in the forested area near Earl Pitts Rd before rapidly strengthening as it crossed highway 84. A single vehicle was rolled in a parking lot near highway 84 prior to the tornado destroying several newer chicken farm buildings. The tornado then continued north northeast across G&P farm rd where the tornado reached peaked intensity. At this location a single wide manufactured home was tossed roughly 50 to 100 yards and completely destroyed. The occupants were thrown from home resulting in two injuries at that location. A single-family wood frame home lost roughly 50 percent of its roof. The failure point of the roof was likely due to an open carport. Further up the road, a second manufactured home was rolled where two other injuries occurred. A few snapped tree trunks were noted along Riley Jordan Rd as the tornado continued northeast. The tornado paralleled Gravel Pit Rd resulting in minor tree damage and structural damage to a home. The roof of this home was partially removed likely due to a large overhang porch structure attached to the roof. A pickup truck was lofted and dropped roughly 20 yards from its original spot bending the frame on impact. Tree damage...

• Lightning06/11/2001

  Waynesboro, Wayne County

  2 injured

  What happened

  Two men working on Nabors Drilling Rig were injured when lightning struck the "grasshopper". They were both knocked to the ground by the strike. They were taken to the hospital, examined and released.

• TornadoEF3, 27.49 mi path, 910 yd wide02/13/2025

  Whistler, Wayne County

  2 injured

  What happened

  A powerful EF3 tornado occurred across Wayne County on the evening of February 12th. The tornado first touched down west of Pine Lane Ranch Road as an EF0 doing minor tree and structural damage. The tornado continued northeast, gradually widening and intensifying to EF1 intensity by the time it reached Highway 84. It then crossed Highway 84 as an EF1 snapping and uprooting multiple trees and continuing minor structural damage. Once the tornado crossed Van Hoover West Road, it destroyed the adjacent chicken houses while also continuing to do EF1 tree damage in the form of snaps and uproots. The next area that was surveyed was along Eucutta Road and Bunk Butler Road. Here the tornado widened substantially to a peak width of 900 yards. Likewise, the tornado intensified significantly to EF3 intensity with peak winds around 150mph. Along Eucutta Road, multiple vortices were evident in emergency management provided drone imagery with several convergent damage tracks. In the most intense vortices, substantial tree and structural damage occurred. On Eucutta Road, a hardwood tree was completely stubbed with only the stubs of the largest branches remaining and at least 3 exterior walls...

• TornadoEF2, 9.2 mi path, 250 yd wide04/29/2014

  Hiwannee, Wayne County

  $1M damage

  What happened

  The NWS Survey team found evidence of a strong tornado that tracked across north central and northeast Wayne County. The tornado tracked from the west to the east at around 50 mph. A single family home located on Waller Ridge Road and several single family homes and mobile homes on Spinkes Hayes Road were destroyed. Minor to moderate damage occurred to numerous other residences from Spinkes Hayes Road to Matherville Diamond Road.

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind06/10/2022

  Robinson Jct, Wayne County

  1 injured

  What happened

  High winds downed a tree through the roof of a mobile home on Lacey Road. One injury reported.

• Flash Flood12/28/2018

  Mulberry, Wayne County

  $1M damage

  What happened

  A swatch of 10 to 15 inches of rain caused major flash flooding over a large part of Wayne County. The heaviest axis of rain and most significant area of flash flooding impacts was located from southwest of Clara northeast into and just north of Waynesboro. Numerous roads across the county were closed due to the flooding. In total, 11 roads and 4 bridges suffered major damage. Another 17 roads had minor damage. One home and 2 mobile homes suffered major flood damage. Another 8 homes suffered minor flood damage.||The costs of damage listed is a very rough estimate as a more detailed estimate was not available.

• Buckatunna Water AssociationServes 4,913 · Groundwater · Public and private1 health violation+2 monitoring or reporting
• City of WaynesboroServes 4,570 · Groundwater · Local government7 health violations+12 monitoring or reporting
• Whistler Water AssociationServes 4,116 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Hiwannee Water Association #1Serves 3,749 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Clara Water AssociationServes 1,690 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Southwest Wayne Water AssnServes 1,101 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations
• Hiwannee Water Association #2Serves 956 · Groundwater · Public and private5 health violations+8 monitoring or reporting