More hazard damage per building is expected in New Hope than in 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Hope gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #52 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then tornadoes (18%). 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 New Hope 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
Tornadoes
Earthquakes
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 New Hope’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Hope, and New Hope’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 18%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C #52 of 101 in Mississippi; higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Hope’s residents live in 3 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, New Hope has more expected damage per building than 51% of Mississippi towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across New Hope: $817K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Hope flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in New Hope. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
New Hope isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lowndes County.The storms New Hope remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Lowndes County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching New Hope itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Lowndes County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Get ready for what New Hope 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.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 New Hope
Is New Hope at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Hope has higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #52 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and tornadoes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is New Hope 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 Lowndes County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in New Hope?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Hope’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is New Hope at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and New Hope’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Hope.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Hope’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.