George Austin McHenry House · Photo: Woodlot · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Saucier than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Saucier gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (56%), then river and rain flooding (34%). 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 Saucier 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
Wildfire
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 Saucier’s grade
Hurricanes are 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Saucier, and Saucier’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 6%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Saucier’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $584K a year in losses across Saucier: $437K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Saucier flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Saucier. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Saucier isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Harrison County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Saucier
Disasters that paid out in Saucier itself (aid to households or repair grants to Saucier), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Tropical Storm Arthur299 households applied for aid$1.9M aid approved
- 2021Hurricane Ida77 households applied for aid$307K aid approved
- 2020Hurricane Zeta504 households applied for aid$694K aid approved
- 2012Hurricane Isaac302 households applied for aid$283K aid approved
- 2008Hurricane Gustav55 households applied for aid$31K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Katrina4,954 households applied for aid$13.9M aid approved
Show all 7
- 2004Hurricane Ivan65 households applied for aid$113K aid approved
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 Saucier after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Saucier archive →Get ready for what Saucier 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Saucier
Is Saucier at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Saucier has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (56%) and river and rain flooding (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Saucier 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 Saucier?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Saucier’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 Saucier?
By FEMA money that reached Saucier, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 4,954 households applied for aid, $13.9M approved.
Is Saucier at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Saucier’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Saucier.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Saucier’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.