Natural Disaster Risk in Charleston

Natural Hazard Profile: Charleston, Mississippi

Charleston is a town of roughly 4,786 residents in Tallahatchie County, in the interior eastern United States. The area experiences very hot, humid summers and mild winters, with overlapping tornado and hurricane seasons shaping the pattern of natural hazards that residents encounter. Understanding the local risk profile is essential for anyone living in, moving to, or owning property in Charleston.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Charleston carries an overall risk score of 5.8/10, placing it in the moderate category. Prolonged drought is the primary hazard risk, shaped by low annual rainfall, high evaporation rates, and increasing temperature trends that deepen and lengthen dry periods. The area also faces notable exposure to earthquake and wind.

Charleston's risk score, near the 6.1/10 state average and above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Tallahatchie County, the highest-scoring are drought, earthquake, and wind. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

With a moderate risk rating, Charleston residents are well-served by maintaining standard preparedness practices — an emergency supply kit, awareness of local hazard seasonality, and insurance that covers the top local risks. Periodic review of coverage for drought is recommended.