Natural hazards · Biloxi

Biloxi, MS natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Biloxi comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2,496 claims here since 1978. 12 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Biloxi?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Biloxi to be higher than in 88% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes57%Inland flooding19%Tornadoes7%Coastal flooding6%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Biloxi faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

57% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

19% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 45% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Coastal flooding

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Biloxi flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Biloxi, from FEMA’s records.

2,496paid claims since 1978

$262Mpaid to owners

161homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Katrina: 1,535 claims, $240M
Hurricane Georges: 168 claims, $3.6M
2026-06-Arthur-TS: 62 claims, $3.2M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 3 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (39) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 20% off flood insurance. Biloxi is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Harrison County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

203buildings retrofitted against wind

17flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

8homes raised above flood level

2storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Biloxi

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Biloxi itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Biloxi.

Brought FEMA money into BiloxiDeclared for Harrison County only

2026

Tropical Storm Arthur

1,495 households applied for aid $2.6M aid approved

2021

Hurricane Ida

299 households applied for aid $367K aid approved $320K to the City of Biloxi for repairs

2020

Hurricane Zeta

1,894 households applied for aid $1.9M aid approved $7.9M to the City of Biloxi for repairs

2020

Hurricane Sally

$119K to the City of Biloxi for repairs

2017

Hurricane Nate

$507K to the City of Biloxi for repairs

2012

Hurricane Isaac

1,067 households applied for aid $361K aid approved $723K to the City of Biloxi for repairs

2008

Hurricane Gustav

172 households applied for aid $94K aid approved $602K to the City of Biloxi for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

33,681 households applied for aid $171M aid approved $513M to the City of Biloxi for repairs

2005

Hurricane Dennis

$125K to the City of Biloxi for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

296 households applied for aid $189K aid approved $570K to the City of Biloxi for repairs

2002

Tropical Storm Isidore

$191K to the City of Biloxi for repairs

2001

Tropical Storm Allison

$154K to the City of Biloxi for repairs

Harrison County has had 26 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Biloxi

Biloxi and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Ocean Springsmostly hurricanesVery high

St. Martinmostly hurricanesVery high

Biloximostly hurricanesVery high

Gulfportmostly hurricanesVery high

D'Ibervillemostly hurricanesVery high

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Biloxi covers 21 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Biloxi’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Biloxi. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Biloxi total about $37.3M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.