Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Booneville as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Booneville gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #28 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (51%), then earthquakes (36%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2012.
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 Booneville faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Tornadoes
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 Booneville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 51% of the building damage FEMA expects in Booneville, and Booneville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 36% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #28 of 101 in Mississippi; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Booneville’s residents live in 5 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, Booneville has less expected damage per building than 73% of Mississippi towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.9M a year in losses across Booneville: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Booneville flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2012
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Booneville, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isaac1 claim · $14K
Booneville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Prentiss County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Booneville
Disasters that paid out in Booneville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Booneville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm958 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$2.6M to the City of Booneville for repairs
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$58K to the City of Booneville for repairs
- 2019Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$215K to the City of Booneville for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$452K to the City of Booneville for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding12 households applied for aid$26K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$68K to the City of Booneville for repairs
Show all 8
- 2005Hurricane Katrina$8K to the City of Booneville for repairs
- 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$16K to the City of Booneville for repairs
Prentiss County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Old photos of Booneville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Booneville archive →Get ready for what Booneville faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Booneville
Is Booneville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Booneville has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #28 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (51%) and earthquakes (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Booneville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Booneville since 2012, $14K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaac (1).
Is Booneville 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 Prentiss County, 1% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Booneville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Booneville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Booneville?
By FEMA money that reached Booneville, Severe Winter Storm (2026): 958 households applied for aid, $1.5M approved, and $2.6M to the City of Booneville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Isaac: 1 paid, $14K.
Is Booneville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (51%), and Booneville’s rate for it is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Booneville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Booneville’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.