Natural hazards · Gulfport

Gulfport, MS natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Gulfport comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 3,272 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 Gulfport?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

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

Hurricanes59%Inland flooding22%Tornadoes7%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Gulfport faces

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

Hurricanes

59% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

22% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 56% 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

Lower here

Coastal floodingHailIce 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 Gulfport flood?

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

3,272paid claims since 1978

$293Mpaid to owners

361homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Katrina: 1,450 claims, $259M
Hurricane Georges: 316 claims, $6.0M
Tropical Storm Allison: 150 claims, $3.2M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 7 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (114) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 10% off flood insurance. Gulfport is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Harrison County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

207buildings retrofitted against wind

93flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

9storm safe rooms built

1flood-prone homes bought out and moved

Disasters that hit Gulfport

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into GulfportDeclared for Harrison County only

2026

Tropical Storm Arthur

5,449 households applied for aid $8.2M aid approved

2026

Severe Winter Storm

6 households applied for aid

2021

Hurricane Ida

844 households applied for aid $1.3M aid approved $629K to the City of Gulfport for repairs

2020

Hurricane Zeta

5,955 households applied for aid $6.8M aid approved $14.2M to the City of Gulfport for repairs

2017

Hurricane Nate

$133K to the City of Gulfport for repairs

2012

Hurricane Isaac

3,125 households applied for aid $1.5M aid approved $1.5M to the City of Gulfport for repairs

2008

Hurricane Gustav

567 households applied for aid $160K aid approved $1.1M to the City of Gulfport for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

44,385 households applied for aid $181M aid approved $217M to the City of Gulfport for repairs

2005

Hurricane Dennis

$31K to the City of Gulfport for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

560 households applied for aid $285K aid approved $578K to the City of Gulfport for repairs

2002

Tropical Storm Isidore

$361K to the City of Gulfport for repairs

2001

Tropical Storm Allison

$286K to the City of Gulfport for repairs

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

Around Gulfport

Gulfport and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Lymanmostly hurricanesVery high

Gulfportmostly hurricanesVery high

Biloximostly hurricanesVery high

Long Beachmostly 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. Gulfport covers 29 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Gulfport’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Gulfport. 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 Gulfport total about $50.9M 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.