Lyceum-The Circle Historic District · Photo: The original uploader was Enjoybeta at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, University faces less hazard damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, led by earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, University gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #2 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (50%), then river and rain flooding (25%). 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 stands out about University’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What University faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
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 University’s grade
Earthquakes are 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in University, and University’s rate of earthquakes damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 25% (lower than 99% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #2 of 101 in Mississippi; lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of University’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Mississippi town has higher expected damage than 64% of U.S. towns; within the state, University has less expected damage per building than 99% of Mississippi towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across University: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does University flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in University. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
University isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lafayette County.The storms University remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Lafayette County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching University itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Lafayette County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms.
Get ready for what University faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 University
Is University at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, University has lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #2 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (50%) and river and rain flooding (25%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is University 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 Lafayette County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in University?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for University’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is University at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and University’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in University.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where University’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.