Photo: Ente75 · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Picayune than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Picayune gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #92 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (64%), then river and rain flooding (30%). Flood insurance has paid 209 claims here since 1980.
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 Picayune’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Picayune 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 Picayune’s grade
Hurricanes are 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Picayune, and Picayune’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 30% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
D− #92 of 101 in Mississippi; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Picayune’s residents live in 8 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, Picayune has more expected damage per building than 91% of Mississippi towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.0M a year in losses across Picayune: $8.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Picayune flood? Yes: 209 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Picayune, from FEMA’s records: 37.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Katrina34 claims · $1.2M
- Hurricane Isaac25 claims · $734K
- The 2026-06-Arthur-TS8 claims · $465K
Picayune is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Pearl River County.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Picayune
Disasters that paid out in Picayune itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Picayune), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Tropical Storm Arthur1,015 households applied for aid$2.8M aid approved8 flood claims paid that year
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding19 households applied for aid$20K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Hurricane Ida341 households applied for aid$553K aid approved$978K to the City of Picayune for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $116K
- 2020Hurricane Zeta25 households applied for aid$14K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding65 households applied for aid$210K aid approved
- 2012Hurricane Isaac1,491 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved$23K to the City of Picayune for repairs25 flood claims paid for it, $734K
Show all 15
- 2008Hurricane Gustav10 households applied for aid$78K to the City of Picayune for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina4 households applied for aid$11K aid approved34 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
- 2005Hurricane Katrina11,499 households applied for aid$20.8M aid approved$3.2M to the City of Picayune for repairs34 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
- 2005Hurricane Dennis$10K to the City of Picayune for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$19K to the City of Picayune for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Floods72 households applied for aid$83K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$10K to the City of Picayune for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Tropical Storm Allison$19K to the City of Picayune for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $46K
- 2001Severe Storms and Tornadoes$4K to the City of Picayune for repairs
Pearl River County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms.
Old photos of Picayune after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Picayune archive →Picayune and its neighbors
Picayune is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholson | D−more damage than 95% | hurricanes | 8 |
| Picayune | D−more damage than 95% | hurricanes | 209 |
| Hide-A-Way Lake | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 3 |
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 Picayune 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.
- Picayune residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Picayune
Is Picayune at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Picayune has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #92 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (64%) and river and rain flooding (30%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Picayune flood?
Flood insurance has paid 209 claims in Picayune since 1980, $4.1M in all, or 37.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 28 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Katrina (34).
Is Picayune 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 Pearl River County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Picayune?
Picayune is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% 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 Picayune?
By FEMA money that reached Picayune, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 11,499 households applied for aid, $20.8M approved, and $3.2M to the City of Picayune for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Katrina: 34 paid, $1.2M.
Is Picayune at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Picayune’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Picayune.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Picayune’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.