Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi · Prentiss
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Jefferson Davis County averages 2 nights a year at 20°F or colder, mostly midwinter, and 9% of its homes predate 1960.
Heavy rain days of an inch or more come about 17.3 times a year here, most often in January. A sump pump that hasn't run since last season is a common weak point.
Sewage backups in Jefferson Davis County spike on heavy-rain days, about 17.3 a year, when sewer mains fill up and water finds the lowest drain.
Roof leaks here come from summer downpours and, with about 26 freeze-thaw days a year, from winter ice dams. Most show up as ceiling stains in the room below.
24% of occupied homes in Jefferson Davis County heat mainly with wood or propane, above the Mississippi county median of 15.1%.
With 134 muggy nights a year, mold in Jefferson Davis County can appear within days of a leak. Dry first, then clean.
Local risk profile
Jefferson Davis County covers 408 square miles of southern Mississippi, with about 11,117 residents and 5,702 homes. The county seat is Prentiss, and Bassfield is the other large town. Much of its housing is recent, with a median build year of 1986.
41/100 Water Damage Risk Index: Moderate Jefferson Davis County ranks 67 of 82 Mississippi counties. See the statewide ranking and method.The three factors where Jefferson Davis County ranks highest compared with other Mississippi counties.
Pipe-freeze risk in Jefferson Davis County sits near the middle of the state. It averaged 26 freezing nights a year over 2015–2024, 2 of them at 20°F or colder, cold enough for pipes in outside walls and crawl spaces to freeze. Among 82 Mississippi counties that's 47th.
Most freezing nights fall from midwinter, peaking in January. Disconnect garden hoses and shut off outdoor spigots before the first hard frost, and keep the heat at 55°F or higher if you'll be away.
Freezing nights typically start around Nov 15 and end around Mar 2.
Heavy rain is a bigger factor here than in most of Mississippi. About 17.3 days a year bring an inch or more (18th of 82), most often in January, out of 62.9 inches of total precipitation. On December 28, 2018, 6.76 inches fell in a single day. The worst three-day stretch dropped 7.27 inches, ending December 30, 2018, the kind of soaking that overwhelms sump pumps and storm sewers.
About 26 days a year swing from below freezing at night to above freezing by day. Those freeze-thaw cycles feed ice dams on roofs, open cracks in foundations and driveways, and stress pipes that are already marginal.
Housing
Mississippi's 82 counties range widely in housing age; Jefferson Davis ranks 57th, with 42% of its homes built before 1980.
Since 2000 the county has added enough housing that 30% of homes are that new. Modern PEX and copper rarely fail on their own; the leaks come from connections, appliances and storms.
The 1980s and 1990s account for 29% of the county's homes. If yours is from those decades, look under the sinks and at the water heater for gray plastic pipe stamped PB, which is polybutylene and leak-prone.
Here 30% of housing is manufactured homes. Check the skirting and the heat tape on the main water line every fall, because that one exposed line is what freezes.
22% of homes were vacant at survey time. A leak in an empty rental or seasonal house can run for days before anyone notices, which is why those losses tend to be larger.
Beyond water
About 134 nights a year in Jefferson Davis County stay at 65°F or warmer, a sign of muggy summer air (22nd of 82 counties). July is the wettest month. Mold grows when indoor humidity stays above about 60%, the EPA's ceiling. A basement dehumidifier set to 50% and drying anything wet within 24 to 48 hours prevents most problems.
Mold remediation: what to expectMain heating fuel in Jefferson Davis County's occupied homes: 9% utility gas, 66% electric, 23% propane and under 1% wood. Propane heat is more common here than the state median. Have chimneys swept and fuel-burning appliances serviced each fall, and keep three feet clear around stoves and space heaters.
Fire and smoke cleanup: first stepsCoverage
Calls connect to restoration companies that work across Jefferson Davis County. The largest communities by population:
Population from ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Townships and unincorporated areas are covered too.
Nearby
Jefferson Davis gets more pipe-freeze nights than any of its neighbors. It also has the most heavy-rain days in its area. Marion County has the oldest housing nearby, with 49% of homes built before 1980.
By the numbers
| Factor | Jefferson Davis | Mississippi median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1960 | 9.1% | 15% | 74 of 82 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 42% | 45% | 57 of 82 |
| Homes built 2000 or later | 30% | 23% | 21 of 82 |
| Manufactured or mobile homes | 30% | 20% | 11 of 82 |
| Vacant homes | 22% | 17% | 14 of 82 |
| Wood or propane heat | 24% | 15% | 21 of 82 |
| Nights at 20°F or colder | 2/yr | 3/yr | 47 of 82 |
| Days with 1 inch+ of rain | 17/yr | 16/yr | 18 of 82 |
| Freeze-thaw days | 26/yr | 32/yr | 51 of 82 |
| Muggy nights (65°F+) | 134/yr | 125/yr | 22 of 82 |
Rank 1 is the highest value. Bars run from the lowest to the highest Mississippi county; the tick marks the median; orange means higher water damage risk than the median, green means lower.
Questions
Peak risk months in Jefferson Davis County: freezing from midwinter, heavy rain in January, March and April.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024); weather from NOAA nClimGrid-Daily county averages (EpiNOAA), 2015–2024, averaged across the county; county boundaries from Census TIGER. Reviewed 2026-10-21. Methodology