Pearl River County in southeast Mississippi was severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with Poplarville and surrounding communities suffering serious wind damage well inland. The Pearl River — for which the county is named — creates serious flooding risk and has flooded communities repeatedly. The county faces ongoing hurricane wind and flooding risk from Gulf storms tracking inland. Picayune serves as a key evacuation routing point.
// Preparedness Recommendations
- Evacuation routes inland should be identified in advance.
- Store at least 72 hours of food and water.
- Elevate critical belongings above flood level.
- Have backup power ready in case of grid failure.
// Recommended Supplies
Essential gear for power outages, severe weather, and emergency situations in your area.
- Emergency Food Supplies
- Water Filtration & Storage
- Backup Generator
- Solar Backup Power
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// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 6 / 10 Moderate Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Hurricane / Flash Flooding |
| Secondary Hazard | Tornado |
| FEMA Flood Zone | High |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 9 |
| Last Major Event | Katrina 2005 |
| Event Frequency | Annual |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (601) 403-2300 |
| Emergency Shelters | 4 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | I-59 US-11 MS-43 MS-26 |
// County Profile
| County | Pearl River County MS |
| State | Mississippi (MS) |
| Population | 55 |
| Area | 812 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | High |
// Other Mississippi Counties
Harrison County MS
Hurricane / Storm Surge
9/10
Critical
Jackson County MS
Hurricane / Storm Surge
8/10
High
Bolivar County MS
Tornado / Mississippi River Flooding
7/10
Moderate
Yazoo County MS
Tornado / Mississippi River Flooding
7/10
Moderate
Quitman County MS
Tornado / Mississippi River Flooding
7/10
Moderate
Tunica County MS
Tornado / Mississippi River Flooding
7/10
Moderate