Photo: Patriarca12 · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Mantachie faces more hazard damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mantachie gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then earthquakes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1999.
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 Mantachie 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 Mantachie’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mantachie, and Mantachie’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 11%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mantachie’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $566K a year in losses across Mantachie: $206K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mantachie flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1999
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mantachie, from FEMA’s records: 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Mantachie isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Itawamba County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mantachie
Disasters that paid out in Mantachie itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Mantachie), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm2 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding24 households applied for aid$132K aid approved$90K to the Town of Mantachie for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$4K to the Town of Mantachie for repairs
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding66 households applied for aid$340K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes and High Winds7 households applied for aid$84K aid approved
Itawamba County has had 22 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Old photos of Mantachie after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mantachie archive →Get ready for what Mantachie 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 Mantachie
Is Mantachie at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mantachie has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and earthquakes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mantachie flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Mantachie since 1999, $52K in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Mantachie 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 Itawamba County, 5% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mantachie?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mantachie’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 Mantachie?
By FEMA money that reached Mantachie, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2014): 66 households applied for aid, $340K approved.
Is Mantachie at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Mantachie’s rate for it is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mantachie.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mantachie’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.