Photo: Roastedbeanz1 · CC BY 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Gulf Hills than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gulf Hills gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #89 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (63%), then river and rain flooding (28%). Flood insurance has paid 33 claims here since 1998.
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 Gulf Hills’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Gulf Hills 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
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 Gulf Hills’ grade
Hurricanes are 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gulf Hills, and Gulf Hills’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #89 of 101 in Mississippi; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Gulf Hills’ residents live in 2 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, Gulf Hills has more expected damage per building than 88% of Mississippi towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.6M a year in losses across Gulf Hills: $4.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gulf Hills flood? Sometimes: 33 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gulf Hills, from FEMA’s records: 8.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Zeta19 claims · $552K
- Hurricane Katrina7 claims · $1.2M
- The 2026-06-Arthur-TS3 claims · $87K
Gulf Hills isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Jackson County.The storms Gulf Hills remembers
None of the 26 disasters declared for Jackson County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Gulf Hills itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 202019 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Zeta, declared for Jackson County
- 20057 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Katrina, declared for Jackson County
- 20263 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storm, declared for Jackson County
Jackson County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms.
Old photos of Gulf Hills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gulf Hills archive →Gulf Hills and its neighbors
Gulf Hills is 3rd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Martin | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 76 |
| Ocean Springs | Dmore damage than 95% | hurricanes | 860 |
| Gulf Hills | Dmore damage than 95% | hurricanes | 33 |
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 Gulf Hills 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.
- 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 Gulf Hills
Is Gulf Hills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gulf Hills has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #89 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (63%) and river and rain flooding (28%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Gulf Hills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 33 claims in Gulf Hills since 1998, $1.9M in all, or 8.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Zeta (19).
Is Gulf Hills 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 Jackson County, 55% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 18.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Gulf Hills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Gulf Hills’ 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 Gulf Hills?
By flood claims, Hurricane Zeta: 19 paid, $552K.
Is Gulf Hills at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Gulf Hills’ rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gulf Hills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gulf Hills’ 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.