Photo: Woodlot · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Biloxi faces more hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Biloxi gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #80 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (66%), then river and rain flooding (22%). Flood insurance has paid 2,496 claims here since 1978.
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
What stands out about Biloxi’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Biloxi faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
Coastal flooding
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.
What’s behind Biloxi’s grade
Hurricanes are 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Biloxi, and Biloxi’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 7%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #80 of 101 in Mississippi; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Biloxi’s residents live in 23 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Mississippi town has higher expected damage than 64% of U.S. towns; within the state, Biloxi has more expected damage per building than 79% of Mississippi towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $36.9M a year in losses across Biloxi: $30.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Biloxi flood? Yes: 2,496 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Biloxi, from FEMA’s records: 108.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Katrina1,535 claims · $240M
- Hurricane Georges168 claims · $3.6M
- The 2026-06-Arthur-TS62 claims · $3.2M
Biloxi is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Harrison County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Biloxi
Disasters that paid out in Biloxi itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Biloxi), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Tropical Storm Arthur1,524 households applied for aid$2.9M aid approved63 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Hurricane Ida299 households applied for aid$367K aid approved$320K to the City of Biloxi for repairs36 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Hurricane Zeta1,894 households applied for aid$1.9M aid approved$7.9M to the City of Biloxi for repairs47 flood claims paid for it, $2.4M
- 2020Hurricane Sally$119K to the City of Biloxi for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Nate$507K to the City of Biloxi for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac1,067 households applied for aid$361K aid approved$723K to the City of Biloxi for repairs29 flood claims paid that year
Show all 13
- 2008Hurricane Gustav172 households applied for aid$94K aid approved$602K to the City of Biloxi for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Katrina3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved1,535 flood claims paid for it, $240M
- 2005Hurricane Katrina33,681 households applied for aid$171M aid approved$513M to the City of Biloxi for repairs1,535 flood claims paid for it, $240M
- 2005Hurricane Dennis$125K to the City of Biloxi for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan296 households applied for aid$189K aid approved$570K to the City of Biloxi for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$191K to the City of Biloxi for repairs30 flood claims paid for it, $463K
- 2001Tropical Storm Allison$154K to the City of Biloxi for repairs33 flood claims paid for it, $250K
Harrison County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms.
Old photos of Biloxi after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Biloxi archive →Biloxi and its neighbors
Biloxi has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biloxi | Dmore damage than 92% | hurricanes | 2,496 |
| Gulfport | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 3,272 |
| St. Martin | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 76 |
| D'Iberville | Dmore damage than 94% | hurricanes | 96 |
| Ocean Springs | Dmore damage than 95% | hurricanes | 860 |
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.
Get ready for what Biloxi faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Biloxi residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Biloxi
Is Biloxi at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Biloxi has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #80 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (66%) and river and rain flooding (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Biloxi flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2,496 claims in Biloxi since 1978, $262M in all, or 108.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 161 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Katrina (1,535).
Is Biloxi 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 Harrison County, 62% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 14.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Biloxi?
Biloxi is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Biloxi?
By FEMA money that reached Biloxi, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 33,681 households applied for aid, $171M approved, and $513M to the City of Biloxi for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Katrina: 1,535 paid, $240M.
Is Biloxi at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Biloxi’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Biloxi.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Biloxi’s 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.