Natural hazards · Jackson

Jackson, MS natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Jackson comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 3,342 claims here since 1978. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Jackson?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Jackson to be higher than in 84% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding53%Tornadoes15%Hail11%Heat waves5%Everything else16%

By hazard

What Jackson faces

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

Inland flooding

53% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

15% of expected damage

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

Hail

11% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Heat waves

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 68% of U.S. places

Recorded about 16 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Jackson flood?

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

3,342paid claims since 1978

$64.4Mpaid to owners

464homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Katrina: 10 claims, $302K
Late winter severe storms: 6 claims, $86K
Hurricane Isaac: 3 claims, $40K

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 8 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (49) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Jackson isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Hinds County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

31storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Jackson

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into JacksonDeclared for Hinds County only

2026

Severe Winter Storm

45 households applied for aid $7K aid approved

2024

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

9,924 households applied for aid $17.6M aid approved

2021

Severe Winter Storms

$168K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2020

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

$92K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2012

Hurricane Isaac

269 households applied for aid $148K aid approved $43K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding

621 households applied for aid $471K aid approved $474K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2008

Hurricane Gustav

$26K to the City of Jackson for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

832 households applied for aid $498K aid approved $3.7M to the City of Jackson for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

33,967 households applied for aid $19.0M aid approved $6.6M to the City of Jackson for repairs

2003

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Floods

798 households applied for aid $2.3M aid approved $375K to the City of Jackson for repairs

Hinds County has had 21 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around Jackson

Jackson and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Jacksonmostly inland floodingVery high

Flowoodmostly inland floodingHigh

Ridgelandmostly inland floodingHigh

Byrammostly inland floodingHigh

Clintonmostly inland floodingHigh

Pearlmostly inland floodingHigh

Richlandmostly inland floodingModerate

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. Jackson covers 51 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Jackson’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Jackson. 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 Jackson total about $91.2M 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.