Photo: Woodlot · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Wiggins’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wiggins gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #77 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (71%), then river and rain flooding (18%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1983.
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 Wiggins 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
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 Wiggins’ grade
Hurricanes are 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wiggins, and Wiggins’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 2%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D #77 of 101 in Mississippi; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wiggins’ 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, Wiggins has more expected damage per building than 76% of Mississippi towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Wiggins: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wiggins flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wiggins, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Wiggins isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Stone County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wiggins
Disasters that paid out in Wiggins itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Wiggins), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Tropical Storm Arthur748 households applied for aid$2.5M aid approved
- 2021Hurricane Ida$7K to the City of Wiggins for repairs
- 2020Hurricane Zeta442 households applied for aid$734K aid approved
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2012Hurricane Isaac311 households applied for aid$226K aid approved$28K to the City of Wiggins for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Gustav$12K to the City of Wiggins for repairs
Show all 9
- 2005Hurricane Katrina3,617 households applied for aid$6.6M aid approved$5.7M to the City of Wiggins for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Dennis$4K to the City of Wiggins for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan293 households applied for aid$176K aid approved$19K to the City of Wiggins for repairs
Stone County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms.
Old photos of Wiggins after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wiggins archive →Wiggins and its neighbors
Wiggins has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wiggins | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 1 |
| Bond | — | 636 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Wiggins 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.
- 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 Wiggins
Is Wiggins at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wiggins has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #77 of 101 in Mississippi. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (71%) and river and rain flooding (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wiggins flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Wiggins since 1983, $7K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Wiggins 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 Stone County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wiggins?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wiggins’ 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 Wiggins?
By FEMA money that reached Wiggins, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 3,617 households applied for aid, $6.6M approved, and $5.7M to the City of Wiggins for repairs.
Is Wiggins at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Wiggins’ rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wiggins.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wiggins’ 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.