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The Bay St. Louis bridge from abovePhoto: Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA · CC BY 2.0
D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Bay St. Louis · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Bay St. Louis faces more hazard damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bay St. Louis gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #93 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (51%), then coastal flooding (25%). Flood insurance has paid 1,392 claims here since 1978.

Hurricanes 51%Coastal flooding 25%River and rain flooding 20%

Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded

more than 96%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#93 of 101 in Mississippi
Hazard risk
D−#93 of 101
in Mississippi · higher than 96% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
51% of expected building damage
Flood claims
1,392
paid since 1978 · $153M
Flooded more than once
178
properties · 50 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
15% off
Community discount (class 7)

What stands out about Bay St. Louis’ natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

1,392 paid flood claims since 1978$153M in all; 178 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 98% of U.S. towns.15% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Bay St. Louis residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7).Coastal flooding: the top 1% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for coastal flooding here ranks in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts; it is 25.2% of the damage it expects.Made safer with FEMA grants37 buildings retrofitted against wind; 3 homes raised above flood level; 2 buildings floodproofed; 2 storm safe rooms built with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Bay St. Louis faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

51%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Coastal flooding

25%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts

River and rain flooding

20%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 1 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Wildfire Hail Earthquakes Lightning Strong wind Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Bay St. Louis’ grade

Hurricanes are 51% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bay St. Louis, and Bay St. Louis’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 25%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Bay St. Louis sits
Bay St. Louis
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #93 of 101 in Mississippi; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Bay St. Louis’ residents live in 7 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes51%Coastal flooding25%River and rain flooding20%Everything else4%

The typical Mississippi town has higher expected damage than 64% of U.S. towns; within the state, Bay St. Louis has more expected damage per building than 92% of Mississippi towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.4M a year in losses across Bay St. Louis: $8.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Zeta in 2020, FEMA took 686 aid registrations from Bay St. Louis addresses (the town has 6,418 homes) and flood insurance paid 47 claims for $286K.
A firm figure. It combines 7 census tracts by where Bay St. Louis’ residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Bay St. Louis flood? Yes: 1,392 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bay St. Louis, from FEMA’s records: 216.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 2 claims1979: 9 claims1980: 6 claims1981: 1 claim1982: 6 claims1983: 15 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 21 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 5 claims1990: 3 claims1991: 3 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 2 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 15 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 28 claims1998: 34 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 18 claims2002: 76 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 1 claim2005: 920 claims2006: 1 claim2007: 0 claims2008: 69 claims2009: 1 claim2010: 0 claims2011: 1 claim2012: 59 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 1 claim2015: 0 claims2016: 1 claim2017: 0 claims2018: 1 claim2019: 1 claim2020: 55 claims2021: 28 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 4 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 1 claim200220052008
19782026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Katrina917 claims · $149M
  • Tropical Storm Isidore66 claims · $981K
  • Hurricane Gustav62 claims · $591K
1,392
paid claims since 1978
$153M
paid to owners
178
homes flooded more than once
$110K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
Each house = 3 homesFEMA “severe repetitive loss” (50)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount15% off flood insurance

Bay St. Louis is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Hancock County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
37buildings retrofitted against wind
3homes raised above flood level
2buildings floodproofed
2storm safe rooms built
Disasters

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bay St. Louis

Disasters that paid out in Bay St. Louis itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bay St. Louis), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2026Tropical Storm Arthur159 households applied for aid$111K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  2. 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding34 households applied for aid$68K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2021Hurricane Ida158 households applied for aid$299K aid approved$3.2M to the City of Bay St. Louis for repairs28 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2020Hurricane Zeta686 households applied for aid$988K aid approved$6.4M to the City of Bay St. Louis for repairs47 flood claims paid for it, $286K
  5. 2020Hurricane Sally$24K to the City of Bay St. Louis for repairs
  6. 2017Hurricane Nate$29K to the City of Bay St. Louis for repairs
Show all 13
  1. 2012Hurricane Isaac1,030 households applied for aid$718K aid approved$186K to the City of Bay St. Louis for repairs58 flood claims paid for it, $607K
  2. 2008Hurricane Gustav615 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$376K to the City of Bay St. Louis for repairs62 flood claims paid for it, $591K
  3. 2005Hurricane Katrina3 households applied for aid$17K aid approved917 flood claims paid for it, $149M
  4. 2005Hurricane Katrina11,895 households applied for aid$112M aid approved$80.9M to the City of Bay St. Louis for repairs917 flood claims paid for it, $149M
  5. 2004Hurricane Ivan38 households applied for aid$41K aid approved$38K to the City of Bay St. Louis for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  6. 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$22K to the City of Bay St. Louis for repairs66 flood claims paid for it, $981K
  7. 2001Tropical Storm Allison$25K to the City of Bay St. Louis for repairs15 flood claims paid for it, $170K
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Bay St. LouisHancock County only

Hancock County has had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms.

Were you here?

Old photos of Bay St. Louis after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Bay St. Louis archive →
Next door

Bay St. Louis and its neighbors

Bay St. Louis is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Waveland: hazard risk DDiamondhead: hazard risk DWavelandDiamondheadBay St. Louis
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
DiamondheadDmore damage than 93%hurricanes29
WavelandDmore damage than 94%hurricanes1,418
Bay St. LouisD−more damage than 96%hurricanes1,392

Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.

Be ready

Get ready for what Bay St. Louis faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Hurricane season
  • The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
  • Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
  • Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the tide surges
  • Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
  • Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
  • Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
  • Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
  • Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
  • Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
  • Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
  • Bay St. Louis residents get 15% off flood insurance.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Bay St. Louis

Is Bay St. Louis at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bay St. Louis has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #93 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (51%) and coastal flooding (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Bay St. Louis flood?

Flood insurance has paid 1,392 claims in Bay St. Louis since 1978, $153M in all, or 216.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 178 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Katrina (917).

Is Bay St. Louis in a flood zone?

Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Hancock County, 64% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 33.1% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Bay St. Louis?

Bay St. Louis is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in Bay St. Louis?

By FEMA money that reached Bay St. Louis, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 11,895 households applied for aid, $112M approved, and $80.9M to the City of Bay St. Louis for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Katrina: 917 paid, $149M.

Is Bay St. Louis at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (51%), and Bay St. Louis’ rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bay St. Louis.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bay St. Louis’ residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.