Photo: Michaelswikiusername at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0Pontotoc’s building-damage rate from tornadoes is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pontotoc gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #10 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (38%), then river and rain flooding (34%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2019.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Pontotoc faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Pontotoc’s grade
Earthquakes are 38% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pontotoc, and Pontotoc’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 20%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B #10 of 101 in Mississippi; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pontotoc’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Mississippi town has higher expected damage than 64% of U.S. towns; within the state, Pontotoc has less expected damage per building than 91% of Mississippi towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Pontotoc: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pontotoc flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2019
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pontotoc, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Pontotoc isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pontotoc County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pontotoc
Disasters that paid out in Pontotoc itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Pontotoc), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm1,059 households applied for aid$985K aid approved$243K to the City of Pontotoc for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$26K to the City of Pontotoc for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Dennis$1K to the City of Pontotoc for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes and High Winds3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2001Severe Storms and Tornadoes$1.7M to the City of Pontotoc for repairs
Pontotoc County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Old photos of Pontotoc after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pontotoc archive →Get ready for what Pontotoc faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Pontotoc
Is Pontotoc at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pontotoc has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #10 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (38%) and river and rain flooding (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pontotoc flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Pontotoc since 2019, $41K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Pontotoc in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Pontotoc County, 4% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pontotoc?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pontotoc’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Pontotoc?
By FEMA money that reached Pontotoc, Severe Storms and Tornadoes (2001): $1.7M to the City of Pontotoc for repairs.
Is Pontotoc at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (38%), and Pontotoc’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pontotoc.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pontotoc’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.