diff --git a/R/RcppExports.R b/R/RcppExports.R
index 98e9d486..166dc0b0 100644
--- a/R/RcppExports.R
+++ b/R/RcppExports.R
@@ -7,5 +7,5 @@ pops_model_cpp <- function(random_seed, multiple_random_seeds, random_seeds, let
 
 # Register entry points for exported C++ functions
 methods::setLoadAction(function(ns) {
-    .Call('_PoPS_RcppExport_registerCCallable', PACKAGE = 'PoPS')
+    .Call(`_PoPS_RcppExport_registerCCallable`)
 })
diff --git a/R/calibrate.R b/R/calibrate.R
index ee6cf2ff..1edec5c6 100644
--- a/R/calibrate.R
+++ b/R/calibrate.R
@@ -331,6 +331,7 @@ calibrate <- function(infected_years_file,
         config <- host_pool_setup(config)
       }
       config$competency_table_list <- competency_table_list_creator(config$competency_table)
+      config$pest_host_table_list <- pest_host_table_list_creator(config$pest_host_table)      
 
       data <- pops_model(
         random_seed = config$random_seed,
diff --git a/R/checks.R b/R/checks.R
index a6a4573b..d84e7045 100644
--- a/R/checks.R
+++ b/R/checks.R
@@ -331,40 +331,53 @@ multihost_checks <-
     checks_passed <- FALSE
     failed_check <- competency_value_error
   }
-
+  
+  if (!checks_passed && identical(names(competency_table)
+                                  [(length(names(competency_table)) - 1):
+                                      length(names(competency_table))], 
+                                  competency_table_colnames)) {
+    checks_passed <- FALSE
+    failed_check <- competency_table_wrong_columns
+  }
+  
   if (!checks_passed && (length(infected_file_list) + 1) <= nrow(competency_table)) {
     checks_passed <- FALSE
     failed_check <- competency_table_row_length_error
   } else {
     competency_table_list <- competency_table_list_creator(competency_table)
   }
-
-  if (!checks_passed && length(infected_file_list) != nrow(pest_host_table)) {
+  
+  if (!checks_passed && identical(names(pest_host_table), pest_host_table_colnames)) {
     checks_passed <- FALSE
-    failed_check <- pest_host_table_row_length_error
+    failed_check <- pest_host_table_wrong_columns
   }
 
-  if (!checks_passed && all(pest_host_table$susceptibility >= 0) &&
-      all(pest_host_table$susceptibility <= 1) && all(pest_host_table$mortality_rate >= 0) &&
-      all(pest_host_table$mortality_rate <= 1)) {
+  
+  if (!checks_passed && all(pest_host_table$susceptibility_mean <= 1) &&
+      all(pest_host_table$susceptibility_mean >= 0) && all(pest_host_table$susceptibility_sd <= 1) &&
+      all(pest_host_table$susceptibility_sd >= 0)) {
     checks_passed <- FALSE
-    failed_check <- pest_host_table_value_error
+    failed_check <- pest_host_susceptbility_value_error
   }
-
-  if (!checks_passed && identical(names(pest_host_table), pest_host_table_list)) {
+  
+  if (!checks_passed && all(pest_host_table$mortality_rate_mean <= 1) &&
+      all(pest_host_table$mortality_rate_mean >= 0) && all(pest_host_table$mortality_rate_sd <= 1) &&
+      all(pest_host_table$mortality_rate_sd >= 0)) {
     checks_passed <- FALSE
-    failed_check <- pest_host_table_wrong_columns
+    failed_check <- pest_host_mortality_rate_value_error
+  }
+  
+  
+  if (!checks_passed && length(infected_file_list) != nrow(pest_host_table)) {
+    checks_passed <- FALSE
+    failed_check <- pest_host_table_row_length_error
   } else {
     host_names <- pest_host_table$host
-    pest_host_table <- pest_host_table[, 2:4]
-    pest_host_table_list <- split(pest_host_table, seq_len(nrow(pest_host_table)))
-    for (i in seq_along(pest_host_table_list)) {
-      pest_host_table_list[[i]] <- unname(pest_host_table_list[[i]])
-      pest_host_table_list[[i]] <- as.vector(t(pest_host_table_list[[i]]))
-    }
+    pest_host_table <- pest_host_table[,-1]
+    pest_host_table_list <- pest_host_table_list_creator(pest_host_table)
   }
 
-  if (any(pest_host_table$mortality_rate > 0)) {
+  if (any(pest_host_table$mortality_rate_mean > 0)) {
     mortality_on <- TRUE
   } else {
     mortality_on <- FALSE
@@ -383,7 +396,7 @@ multihost_checks <-
     names(outs) <- failed_check_list
     return(outs)
   }
-}
+  }
 
 multispecies_checks <- function(species,
                                 infected_files,
diff --git a/R/configuration.R b/R/configuration.R
index 6f15150f..dcef2490 100644
--- a/R/configuration.R
+++ b/R/configuration.R
@@ -667,11 +667,11 @@ configuration <- function(config) {
 
     mortality_tracker <- list(zero_matrix)
     if (config$mortality_on) {
-      if (config$pest_host_table$mortality_rate[i] <= 0) {
+      if (config$pest_host_table$mortality_rate_mean[i] <= 0) {
         mortality_length <- 1
       } else {
         mortality_length <-
-          1 / config$pest_host_table$mortality_rate[i] +
+          1 / config$pest_host_table$mortality_rate_mean[i] +
           config$pest_host_table$mortality_time_lag[i]
       }
       for (mt in 2:(mortality_length)) {
diff --git a/R/error_messages.R b/R/error_messages.R
index 99febb95..28f41e9c 100644
--- a/R/error_messages.R
+++ b/R/error_messages.R
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ detailed_file_exists_error <- function(file_name) {
 frequency_error <-
   "Output frequency must be either 'week', 'month', 'day', 'year', 'time_step', or 'every_n_steps'"
 raster_type_error <-
-  "file is not one of '.grd', '.tif', '.img', or '.vrt'"
 extent_error <-
   "Extents of input rasters do not match. Ensure that all of your input rasters have the same
 extent"
@@ -184,6 +183,10 @@ competency_table_row_length_error <-
   "competency_table needs to have at least 1 more row than the number of hosts being modeled which
   is represented by the number of file in the host_file_list"
 
+competency_table_wrong_columns <-
+  "Check column order and headings. The competency table requires a column for each
+  host species, followed by a competency_mean column and competency_sd column"
+
 competency_value_error <-
   "competency_table competency_mean and competency_sd values must be between 0 and 1"
 
@@ -191,11 +194,14 @@ pest_host_table_row_length_error <-
   "pest_host_table doesn't have the same number of rows as number of files in host_file_list"
 
 pest_host_table_wrong_columns <-
-  "pest_host_table must the 4 columns named and order: host, susceptibility, mortality_rate,
-  mortality_time_lag"
+  "pest_host_table must the 6 columns named and order: host, susceptibility_mean,
+  susceptibility_sd, mortality_rate_mean, mortality_rate_sd, mortality_time_lag"
+
+pest_host_susceptbility_value_error <-
+  "pest_host_table susceptiblity_mean and susceptibility_sd values must be between 0 and 1"
 
-pest_host_table_value_error <-
-  "pest_host_table susceptiblity and mortality_rate must be between 0 and 1"
+pest_host_mortality_rate_value_error <-
+  "pest_host_table mortality_rate_mean and mortality_rate_sd values must be between 0 and 1"
 
 multihosts_gt_totpop_error <-
   "All hosts sum to more than the total populations in some cells. Check rasters to ensure that
diff --git a/R/helpers.R b/R/helpers.R
index dc477161..be285231 100644
--- a/R/helpers.R
+++ b/R/helpers.R
@@ -271,19 +271,21 @@ combined_sd <- function(v1, v2, m1, m2, n1, n2) {
     (((n1 * n2) * (m1 - m2)^2) / ((n1 + n2) * (n1 + n2 - 1)))
 }
 
+# Reformat competency_table into list (per host composition) with competency values 
+# randomly sampled from a normal distribution using mean and sd in competency table
+
 competency_table_list_creator <- function(competency_table) {
   competency_table2 <- competency_table[, 1:(ncol(competency_table) - 1)]
   competencies <-
     rnorm(n = nrow(competency_table), mean = competency_table$competency_mean,
-          sd = competency_table$compentency_sd)
+          sd = competency_table$competency_sd)
   names(competency_table2)[ncol(competency_table2)] <- "competency"
   while (any(competencies > 1) || any(competencies < 0)) {
     competencies <-
       rnorm(n = nrow(competency_table),
-            mean = competency_table$competency_mean, sd = competency_table$compentency_sd)
+            mean = competency_table$competency_mean, sd = competency_table$competency_sd)
   }
   competency_table2$competency <- competencies
-  competency_table2 <- competency_table2
   competency_table_list <- split(competency_table2, seq_len(nrow(competency_table2)))
   for (i in seq_along(competency_table_list)) {
     competency_table_list[[i]] <- unname(competency_table_list[[i]])
@@ -292,6 +294,35 @@ competency_table_list_creator <- function(competency_table) {
   return(competency_table_list)
 }
 
+# Reformat pest_host_table into list (per host species) with susceptibility and
+# mortality rates randomly sampled from a normal distribution using the means and sds i
+# in the pest_host_table
+
+pest_host_table_list_creator <- function(pest_host_table){
+  pest_host_table2 <- pest_host_table[,!grepl("_sd", colnames(pest_host_table))]
+  susceptibilities <- 
+    rnorm(n = nrow(pest_host_table), mean = pest_host_table$susceptibility_mean, sd = pest_host_table$susceptibility_sd)
+  names(pest_host_table2)[1] <- "susceptibility"
+  while (any(susceptibilities > 1) || any(susceptibilities < 0)) {
+    susceptibilities <- rnorm(n = nrow(pest_host_table), mean = pest_host_table$susceptibility_mean, sd = pest_host_table$susceptibility_sd)
+  }
+  pest_host_table2$susceptibility <- susceptibilities
+  mortality_rates <-
+    rnorm(n = nrow(pest_host_table), mean = pest_host_table$mortality_rate_mean, sd = pest_host_table$mortality_rate_sd)
+  names(pest_host_table2)[2] <- "mortality_rate"
+  while (any(mortality_rates > 1) || any(mortality_rates < 0)) {
+    mortality_rates <-
+      rnorm(n = nrow(pest_host_table), mean = pest_host_table$mortality_rate_mean, sd = pest_host_table$mortality_rate_sd)
+  }
+  pest_host_table2$mortality_rate <- mortality_rates
+  pest_host_table_list <- split(pest_host_table2, seq_len(nrow(pest_host_table2)))
+  for (i in seq_along(pest_host_table_list)) {
+    pest_host_table_list[[i]] <- unname(pest_host_table_list[[i]])
+    pest_host_table_list[[i]] <- as.vector(t(pest_host_table_list[[i]]))
+  }
+  return(pest_host_table_list)
+}
+
 # Update host pools when uncertainties are used
 host_pool_setup <- function(config) {
   total_infecteds <- config$zero_matrix
diff --git a/R/lists.R b/R/lists.R
index e06e86aa..a738f44b 100644
--- a/R/lists.R
+++ b/R/lists.R
@@ -121,4 +121,7 @@ failed_check_list <- c("checks_passed", "failed_check")
 output_frequency_list <-
   c("week", "month", "day", "year", "time_step", "every_n_steps", "final_step")
 csv_list <- c("csv", "txt")
-pest_host_table_list <- c("host", "susceptibility", "mortality_rate", "mortality_time_lag")
+competency_table_colnames <- c("competency_mean","competency_sd")
+pest_host_table_colnames <- c("host","susceptibility_mean","susceptibility_sd",
+                              "mortality_rate_mean","mortality_rate_sd",
+                              "mortality_time_lag")
diff --git a/R/pops.r b/R/pops.r
index 3a7f07b1..ef2169fb 100644
--- a/R/pops.r
+++ b/R/pops.r
@@ -187,10 +187,11 @@
 #' @param start_with_soil_populations Boolean to indicate whether to use a starting soil pest or
 #' pathogen population if TRUE then soil_starting_pest_file is required.
 #' @param pest_host_table The file path to a csv that has these columns in this order: host,
-#' susceptibility, mortality rate, and mortality time lag as columns with each row being the
-#' species. Host species must be in the same order in the host_file_list, infected_file_list,
-#' pest_host_table rows, and competency_table columns. The host column is only used for metadata
-#' and labeling output files.
+#' susceptibility_mean, susceptibility_sd, mortality_rate, mortality_rate_mean, and mortality_time_lag as 
+#' columns with each row being the species. Host species must be in the same order in the 
+#' host_file_list, infected_file_list, pest_host_table rows, and competency_table columns.
+#' The host column is character string of the species name, and  is only used for metadata 
+#' and labeling output files. Susceptibility and mortality_rate values must be between 0 and 1.
 #' @param competency_table A csv with the hosts as the first n columns (n being the number of hosts)
 #' and the last column being the competency value. Each row is a set of Boolean for host presence
 #' and the competency value (between 0 and 1) for that combination of hosts in a cell.
@@ -382,6 +383,7 @@ pops <- function(infected_file_list,
     config <- host_pool_setup(config)
   }
   config$competency_table_list <- competency_table_list_creator(config$competency_table)
+  config$pest_host_table_list <- pest_host_table_list_creator(config$pest_host_table)
 
   data <- pops_model(random_seed = config$random_seed[1],
                      multiple_random_seeds = config$multiple_random_seeds,
diff --git a/R/pops_multirun.R b/R/pops_multirun.R
index 2eee7256..e87c89ba 100644
--- a/R/pops_multirun.R
+++ b/R/pops_multirun.R
@@ -228,6 +228,7 @@ pops_multirun <- function(infected_file_list,
         config <- host_pool_setup(config)
       }
       config$competency_table_list <- competency_table_list_creator(config$competency_table)
+      config$pest_host_table_list <- pest_host_table_list_creator(config$pest_host_table)
 
       data <- PoPS::pops_model(
         random_seed = config$random_seed[i],
diff --git a/R/validate.R b/R/validate.R
index e10e347b..9f4562be 100644
--- a/R/validate.R
+++ b/R/validate.R
@@ -246,6 +246,7 @@ validate <- function(infected_years_file,
         config <- host_pool_setup(config)
       }
       config$competency_table_list <- competency_table_list_creator(config$competency_table)
+      config$pest_host_table_list <- pest_host_table_list_creator(config$pest_host_table)
 
       data <- pops_model(
         random_seed = config$random_seed[i],
diff --git a/inst/extdata/competency_table_2host.csv b/inst/extdata/competency_table_2host.csv
index 71ea375c..b83db79e 100644
--- a/inst/extdata/competency_table_2host.csv
+++ b/inst/extdata/competency_table_2host.csv
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-oak,tanoak,competency_mean,compentency_sd
+oak,tanoak,competency_mean,competency_sd
 0,0,0,0
 1,0,0,0
 0,1,0.7,0.1
-1,1,0.8,0.05
\ No newline at end of file
+1,1,0.8,0.05
diff --git a/inst/extdata/competency_table_multihost.csv b/inst/extdata/competency_table_multihost.csv
index 16a43fa8..48e0fe46 100644
--- a/inst/extdata/competency_table_multihost.csv
+++ b/inst/extdata/competency_table_multihost.csv
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-oak,tanoak,bay_laurel,competency_mean,compentency_sd
+oak,tanoak,bay_laurel,competency_mean,competency_sd
 0,0,0,0,0
 1,0,0,0,0
 0,1,0,0.7,0.1
-0,0,1,0.8,0.05
\ No newline at end of file
+0,0,1,0.8,0.05
diff --git a/inst/extdata/competency_table_singlehost.csv b/inst/extdata/competency_table_singlehost.csv
index 63951f53..fff6ba12 100644
--- a/inst/extdata/competency_table_singlehost.csv
+++ b/inst/extdata/competency_table_singlehost.csv
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-tanoak,competency_mean,compentency_sd
+tanoak,competency_mean,competency_sd
 0,0,0
-1,1,0.1
\ No newline at end of file
+1,1,0.1
diff --git a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table.csv b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table.csv
index 4d1da095..98847d2c 100644
--- a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table.csv
+++ b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table.csv
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-host,susceptibility,mortality_rate,mortality_time_lag
-oak,0.7,0.1,1
-tanoak,1,0.5,1
-bay laurel,0.5,0,0
\ No newline at end of file
+host,susceptibility_mean,susceptibility_sd,mortality_rate_mean,mortality_rate_sd,mortality_time_lag
+oak,0.7,0.12,0.1,0,1
+tanoak,1,0.13,0.5,0,1
+bay laurel,0.5,0,0,0,0
diff --git a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_2host.csv b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_2host.csv
index 843aa802..554fefc2 100644
--- a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_2host.csv
+++ b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_2host.csv
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-host,susceptibility,mortality_rate,mortality_time_lag
-oak,0.7,0.1,1
-tanoak,1,0.5,1
\ No newline at end of file
+host,susceptibility_mean,susceptibility_sd,mortality_rate_mean,mortality_rate_sd,mortality_time_lag
+oak,0.7,0.12,0.1,0.02,1
+tanoak,1,0.13,0.5,0.08,1
diff --git a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost.csv b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost.csv
index c121dc6e..49f106b7 100644
--- a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost.csv
+++ b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost.csv
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-host,susceptibility,mortality_rate,mortality_time_lag
-oak,0.7,0.5,1
\ No newline at end of file
+host,susceptibility_mean,susceptibility_sd,mortality_rate_mean,mortality_rate_sd,mortality_time_lag
+oak,0.7,0.12,0.5,0.02,1
diff --git a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost010tl1.csv b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost010tl1.csv
index bbf4ef49..b1d30338 100644
--- a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost010tl1.csv
+++ b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost010tl1.csv
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-host,susceptibility,mortality_rate,mortality_time_lag
-oak,0.7,0.1,1
\ No newline at end of file
+host,susceptibility_mean,susceptibility_sd,mortality_rate_mean,mortality_rate_sd,mortality_time_lag
+oak,0.7,0.12,0.1,0.02,1
diff --git a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost025.csv b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost025.csv
index f76d0695..461ce031 100644
--- a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost025.csv
+++ b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost025.csv
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-host,susceptibility,mortality_rate,mortality_time_lag
-oak,0.7,0.25,1
\ No newline at end of file
+host,susceptibility_mean,susceptibility_sd,mortality_rate_mean,mortality_rate_sd,mortality_time_lag
+oak,0.7,0.12,0.25,0.02,1
diff --git a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost025tl3.csv b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost025tl3.csv
index 1361dfa8..d9ef9f05 100644
--- a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost025tl3.csv
+++ b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost025tl3.csv
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-host,susceptibility,mortality_rate,mortality_time_lag
-oak,0.7,0.25,3
\ No newline at end of file
+host,susceptibility_mean,susceptibility_sd,mortality_rate_mean,mortality_rate_sd,mortality_time_lag
+oak,0.7,0.12,0.25,0.02,3
diff --git a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost_nomort.csv b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost_nomort.csv
index 94a94f9c..84dc713a 100644
--- a/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost_nomort.csv
+++ b/inst/extdata/pest_host_table_singlehost_nomort.csv
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-host,susceptibility,mortality_rate,mortality_time_lag
-oak,0.7,0,1
\ No newline at end of file
+host,susceptibility_mean,susceptibility_sd,mortality_rate_mean,mortality_rate_sd,mortality_time_lag
+oak,0.7,0.12,0,0,0
diff --git a/inst/extdata/simple2x2/infected_tanoak.tif b/inst/extdata/simple2x2/infected_tanoak.tif
index 946cc401..a5ebb51b 100644
Binary files a/inst/extdata/simple2x2/infected_tanoak.tif and b/inst/extdata/simple2x2/infected_tanoak.tif differ
diff --git a/inst/extdata/simple2x2/infected_tanoak_wsd.tif b/inst/extdata/simple2x2/infected_tanoak_wsd.tif
index 0192d7df..083c1a17 100644
Binary files a/inst/extdata/simple2x2/infected_tanoak_wsd.tif and b/inst/extdata/simple2x2/infected_tanoak_wsd.tif differ