Fort Massachusetts · Photo: Edibobb · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Long Beach faces more hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Long Beach gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #79 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (67%), then river and rain flooding (27%). Flood insurance has paid 1,545 claims here since 1978.
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 Long Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Long Beach 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 Long Beach’s grade
Hurricanes are 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Long Beach, and Long Beach’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 1%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
D #79 of 101 in Mississippi; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Long Beach’s residents live in 10 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, Long Beach has more expected damage per building than 78% of Mississippi towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.7M a year in losses across Long Beach: $8.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Long Beach flood? Yes: 1,545 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Long Beach, from FEMA’s records: 198.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Katrina883 claims · $143M
- Tropical Storm Allison114 claims · $1.6M
- Hurricane Georges82 claims · $1.2M
Long Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Harrison County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Long Beach
Disasters that paid out in Long Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Long Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Tropical Storm Arthur235 households applied for aid$509K aid approved
- 2021Hurricane Ida96 households applied for aid$280K aid approved$30K to the City of Long Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2020Hurricane Zeta803 households applied for aid$632K aid approved$5.8M to the City of Long Beach for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $91K
- 2020Hurricane Sally$16K to the City of Long Beach for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Nate$371K to the City of Long Beach for repairs27 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac369 households applied for aid$177K aid approved$130K to the City of Long Beach for repairs26 flood claims paid for it, $339K
Show all 13
- 2008Hurricane Gustav61 households applied for aid$26K aid approved$153K to the City of Long Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Katrina1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved883 flood claims paid for it, $143M
- 2005Hurricane Katrina10,244 households applied for aid$47.2M aid approved$64.8M to the City of Long Beach for repairs883 flood claims paid for it, $143M
- 2005Hurricane Dennis$37K to the City of Long Beach for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan39 households applied for aid$37K aid approved$126K to the City of Long Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$290K to the City of Long Beach for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $49K
- 2001Tropical Storm Allison$14K to the City of Long Beach for repairs114 flood claims paid for it, $1.6M
Harrison County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms.
Old photos of Long Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Long Beach archive →Long Beach and its neighbors
Long Beach has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach | Dmore damage than 92% | hurricanes | 1,545 |
| Gulfport | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 3,272 |
| Pass Christian | D−more damage than 96% | hurricanes | 2,723 |
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 Long Beach 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.
- Long Beach residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Long Beach
Is Long Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Long Beach has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #79 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (67%) and river and rain flooding (27%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Long Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,545 claims in Long Beach since 1978, $153M in all, or 198.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 109 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Katrina (883).
Is Long Beach 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 Harrison County, 62% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 14.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Long Beach?
Long Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Long Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Long Beach, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 10,244 households applied for aid, $47.2M approved, and $64.8M to the City of Long Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Katrina: 883 paid, $143M.
Is Long Beach at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Long Beach’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Long Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Long Beach’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.