Photo: Chillin662 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Rolling Fork’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 70% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rolling Fork gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%), then tornadoes (19%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1993.
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 Rolling Fork faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Hail
Earthquakes
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 Rolling Fork’s grade
River and rain flooding is 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rolling Fork, and Rolling Fork’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 19%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rolling Fork’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Rolling Fork: $593K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rolling Fork flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rolling Fork, from FEMA’s records: 11.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Rolling Fork isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sharkey County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rolling Fork
Disasters that paid out in Rolling Fork itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rolling Fork), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm522 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$10K to the City of Rolling Fork for repairs
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding18 households applied for aid$80K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes1,161 households applied for aid$5.5M aid approved$5.5M to the City of Rolling Fork for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding46 households applied for aid$256K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Flooding231 households applied for aid$38K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Katrina$6K to the City of Rolling Fork for repairs
Show all 7
- 1998Severe Winter Storms, Ice and Freezing Rain$3K to the City of Rolling Fork for repairs
Sharkey County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Old photos of Rolling Fork after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rolling Fork archive →Get ready for what Rolling Fork faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Rolling Fork
Is Rolling Fork at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rolling Fork has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%) and tornadoes (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rolling Fork flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Rolling Fork since 1993, $175K in all, or 11.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Rolling Fork 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 Sharkey County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 6.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rolling Fork?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rolling Fork’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 Rolling Fork?
By FEMA money that reached Rolling Fork, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes (2023): 1,161 households applied for aid, $5.5M approved, and $5.5M to the City of Rolling Fork for repairs.
Is Rolling Fork at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Rolling Fork’s rate for it is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rolling Fork.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rolling Fork’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.