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Heidelberg, MississippiPhoto: Dofftoubab · CC BY-SA 4.0
–Not graded
Natural hazards in Heidelberg · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Heidelberg

Heidelberg isn’t graded for hazard risk: Heidelberg has 756 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1998.

Flood claims
8
paid since 1998 · $83K
Flooded more than once
2
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
7
of 22 declared for Jasper County
By hazard

What Heidelberg 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

42%of expected building damage
Well below average · lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

27%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 13 years in the area

Hurricanes

12%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 8 years in the area

Hail

8%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Strong wind Ice storms Cold waves top 2% Wildfire Lightning Winter storms Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 11% of Heidelberg’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.4%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.
Flood insurance claims

Does Heidelberg flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1998

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Heidelberg, from FEMA’s records.

Paid flood claims, by year
1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 1 claim2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 1 claim2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 1 claim2012: 1 claim2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 1 claim2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 2 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199820012020
19982026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Isaac1 claim · $3K
  • The Late winter severe storms1 claim · $2K
8
paid claims since 1998
$83K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$10K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Jasper County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
13storm safe rooms built
Disasters

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Heidelberg

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

  1. 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes.14 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
  2. 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding122 households applied for aid$291K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding15 households applied for aid$126K aid approved
  4. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Associated Flooding4 households applied for aid$2K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  5. 2005Hurricane Katrina1,495 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  6. 2004Hurricane Ivan2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
Show all 7
  1. 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Floods4 households applied for aid$454 aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in HeidelbergJasper County only

Jasper County has had 22 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Heidelberg archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Heidelberg 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 ↗
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 ↗
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 ↗
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 Heidelberg

Does Heidelberg flood?

Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Heidelberg since 1998, $83K in all. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaac (1).

Is Heidelberg 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 Jasper County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Heidelberg?

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

By FEMA money that reached Heidelberg, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 1,495 households applied for aid, $1.2M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Isaac: 1 paid, $3K.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Heidelberg.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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