Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Guntown as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Guntown gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #9 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%), then earthquakes (29%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Guntown 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 Guntown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Guntown, and Guntown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 29% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
B #9 of 101 in Mississippi; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Guntown’s 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, Guntown has less expected damage per building than 92% of Mississippi towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $956K a year in losses across Guntown: $493K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Guntown flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Guntown. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Guntown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lee County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Guntown
Disasters that paid out in Guntown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Guntown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm122 households applied for aid$153K aid approved$8K to the Town of Guntown for repairs
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding27 households applied for aid$51K aid approved
Lee County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Old photos of Guntown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Guntown archive →Guntown and its neighbors
Guntown is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwyn | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Guntown | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
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 Guntown 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 Guntown
Is Guntown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Guntown has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #9 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%) and earthquakes (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Guntown 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 Lee County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Guntown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Guntown’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 Guntown?
By FEMA money that reached Guntown, Severe Winter Storm (2026): 122 households applied for aid, $153K approved, and $8K to the Town of Guntown for repairs.
Is Guntown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Guntown’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Guntown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Guntown’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.