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Covington County Courthouse, Collins, MS 2015Photo: JonathanTheLibrarian · CC BY-SA 4.0
C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Collins · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Collins faces more hazard damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Collins gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (44%), then hurricanes (36%). Flood insurance has paid 21 claims here since 1980.

River and rain flooding 44%Hurricanes 36%Tornadoes 9%

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 83%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
C−
in Mississippi · higher than 83% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
44% of expected building damage
Flood claims
21
paid since 1980 · $162K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Disasters paid out here
6
of 25 declared for Covington County

What stands out about Collins’ natural hazards

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

Made safer with FEMA grants8 storm safe rooms built; 1 building floodproofed with FEMA grants.Remembers 19837 flood claims were paid for 1983 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Collins 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

44%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Hurricanes

36%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 7 years in the area

Tornadoes

9%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

6%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Earthquakes Ice storms Cold waves top 1% Lightning Wildfire Winter storms Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Collins’ grade

River and rain flooding is 44% of the building damage FEMA expects in Collins, and Collins’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Hurricanes add 36%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Collins sits
Collins
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Collins’ residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding44%Hurricanes36%Tornadoes9%Everything else12%

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Collins: $948K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in 2025, FEMA took 885 aid registrations from Collins addresses (the town has 1,093 homes).
A small-area figure. Collins covers 3 census tracts, combined by where 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 Collins flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 1980

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Collins, from FEMA’s records: 19.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1980: 2 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 7 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 3 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 1 claim1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 1 claim2002: 0 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 1 claim2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 2 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198019831990
19802026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Ida1 claim · $27K
21
paid claims since 1980
$162K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$8K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Collins isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Covington County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
8storm safe rooms built
1building floodproofed
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Collins

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

  1. 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding885 households applied for aid$5.6M aid approved
  2. 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding426 households applied for aid$988K aid approved
  3. 2019Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$552K to the City of Collins for repairs
  4. 2012Hurricane Isaac$13K to the City of Collins for repairs
  5. 2005Hurricane Katrina3,281 households applied for aid$3.4M aid approved$2.5M to the City of Collins for repairs
  6. 2005Hurricane Dennis$4K to the City of Collins for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in CollinsCovington County only

Covington County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Collins archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Collins faces

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

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 ↗
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 ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
  • Stay away from windows while it falls.
  • Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
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.
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 Collins

Is Collins at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Collins has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (44%) and hurricanes (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Collins flood?

Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Collins since 1980, $162K in all, or 19.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (1).

Is Collins 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 Covington County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Collins?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Collins’ 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 Collins?

By FEMA money that reached Collins, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 3,281 households applied for aid, $3.4M approved, and $2.5M to the City of Collins for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 1 paid, $27K.

Is Collins at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (44%), and Collins’ rate for it is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Collins.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Collins’ 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.