West Hattiesburg, MS
West Hattiesburg, MS's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
Out of every US place USFS scores, West Hattiesburg lands at the 80th percentile for wildfire risk to structures — well above the national norm for wildfire risk — a figure built from its 2,098 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, West Hattiesburg's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 82nd percentile nationally.
West Hattiesburg's building exposure, zone by zone
Indirect exposure is dominant in West Hattiesburg (48.4% of 2,098 buildings): far enough from burnable vegetation to avoid flame contact, close enough for wind-blown embers. Only 33.7% sit in the Direct zone.
Where West Hattiesburg ranks
West Hattiesburg's risk sits at a similar level relative to Mississippi (80th percentile statewide) as it does nationally (80th) — this place isn't unusual for its own state either way. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, West Hattiesburg ranks 6,399 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 7,195 by building count (1 is largest). Within Mississippi alone, it ranks 86 of 420 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Mississippi on its state page.
What this risk score means for insurance
West Hattiesburg's high rating (80th percentile) puts it among the places where the national carrier-pullback trend is most relevant — not a guarantee of a coverage problem, but a reason to shop rather than assume.
Hardening a home in West Hattiesburg
With ember exposure the dominant pattern in West Hattiesburg (48.4% Indirect), vent screens and roofing material tend to matter more than lot clearing alone. The home-hardening guide covers both.
More on how this number was built
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 2,098 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for West Hattiesburg. For more on what indirect exposure implies beyond West Hattiesburg, see the exposure-zones guide.