Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Laurel

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Lauren Rogers museumPhoto: Michlaovic · Public domain
C+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Laurel · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Laurel faces more hazard damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Laurel gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #51 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%), then hurricanes (23%). Flood insurance has paid 108 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 52%Hurricanes 23%Tornadoes 15%

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 64%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#51 of 101 in Mississippi
Hazard risk
C+#51 of 101
in Mississippi · higher than 64% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
52% of expected building damage
Flood claims
108
paid since 1979 · $1.3M
Flooded more than once
14
properties
Disasters paid out here
11
of 25 declared for Jones County

What stands out about Laurel’s natural hazards

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

108 paid flood claims since 1979$1.3M in all; 14 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 79% of U.S. towns.Made safer with FEMA grants34 storm safe rooms built; 13 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 201811 flood claims were paid for 2018 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Laurel 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

52%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

23%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 7 years in the area

Tornadoes

15%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Hail Strong wind Ice storms Lightning Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves 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 Laurel’s grade

River and rain flooding is 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Laurel, and Laurel’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 15%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Laurel sits
Laurel
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C+ #51 of 101 in Mississippi; higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Laurel’s residents live in 8 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding52%Hurricanes23%Tornadoes15%Everything else9%

The typical Mississippi town has higher expected damage than 64% of U.S. towns; within the state, Laurel has more expected damage per building than 50% of Mississippi towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.9M a year in losses across Laurel: $5.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 8 census tracts by where Laurel’s 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 Laurel flood? Yes: 108 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Laurel, from FEMA’s records: 13.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 9 claims1980: 7 claims1981: 1 claim1982: 3 claims1983: 5 claims1984: 3 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 1 claim1987: 2 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 6 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 10 claims1994: 2 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 1 claim1998: 4 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 5 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 4 claims2005: 8 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 1 claim2010: 0 claims2011: 2 claims2012: 1 claim2013: 0 claims2014: 9 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 6 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 11 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 2 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 3 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197919932018
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The Mid-spring storms8 claims · $139K
  • The Late winter severe storms6 claims · $130K
  • Hurricane Katrina6 claims · $94K
108
paid claims since 1979
$1.3M
paid to owners
14
homes flooded more than once
$12K
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

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

Insurance rates: Jones County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
34storm safe rooms built
13flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Laurel

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

  1. 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes.5 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$493K to the City of Laurel for repairs
  2. 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding395 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2018Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornado$415K to the City of Laurel for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2016Severe Storms and Flooding105 households applied for aid$111K aid approved$100K to the City of Laurel for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding257 households applied for aid$214K aid approved$152K to the City of Laurel for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2012Hurricane Isaac83 households applied for aid$63K aid approved$4K to the City of Laurel for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $64K
Show all 11
  1. 2008Hurricane Gustav$2K to the City of Laurel for repairs
  2. 2005Hurricane Katrina14,328 households applied for aid$14.6M aid approved$4.8M to the City of Laurel for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $94K
  3. 2005Hurricane Dennis$4K to the City of Laurel for repairs
  4. 2004Hurricane Ivan5 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$65K to the City of Laurel for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $4K
  5. 2001Severe Storms and Tornadoes$4K to the City of Laurel for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in LaurelJones County only

Jones 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 Laurel after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Laurel archive →
Next door

Laurel and its neighbors

Laurel is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Ellisville: hazard risk B−EllisvilleLaurel
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
EllisvilleB−more damage than 54%river and rain flooding7
LaurelC+more damage than 64%river and rain flooding108

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Laurel 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 ↗
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 Laurel

Is Laurel at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Laurel has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #51 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%) and hurricanes (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Laurel flood?

Flood insurance has paid 108 claims in Laurel since 1979, $1.3M in all, or 13.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 14 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (8).

Is Laurel 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 Jones County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Laurel?

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

By FEMA money that reached Laurel, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 14,328 households applied for aid, $14.6M approved, and $4.8M to the City of Laurel for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 8 paid, $139K.

Is Laurel at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Laurel’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Laurel.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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