Natural hazards · Natchez

Natchez, MS natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Natchez comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 16 claims here since 1983. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Natchez?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Natchez to be higher than in 62% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding52%Tornadoes19%Heat waves9%Hurricanes5%Cold waves5%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Natchez faces

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

Inland flooding

52% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 74% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

19% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. places

Heat waves

9% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 75% of U.S. places

Recorded about 16 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 10 years in the area

Cold waves

5% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Natchez flood?

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

16paid claims since 1983

$356Kpaid to owners

3homes flooded more than once

19832026

Biggest named events

Mid-spring storms: 5 claims, $111K
Late winter severe storms: 1 claim, $7K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Adams County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

4storm safe rooms built

1homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Natchez

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into NatchezDeclared for Adams County only

2026

Severe Winter Storm

2,563 households applied for aid $6.0M aid approved $47K to the City of Natchez for repairs

2021

Severe Winter Storms

$881K to the City of Natchez for repairs

2017

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

$16K to the City of Natchez for repairs

2012

Hurricane Isaac

467 households applied for aid $246K aid approved $38K to the City of Natchez for repairs

2011

Flooding

45 households applied for aid $98K aid approved $179K to the City of Natchez for repairs

2008

Hurricane Gustav

2,319 households applied for aid $658K aid approved $114K to the City of Natchez for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

3,921 households applied for aid $2.9M aid approved $200K to the City of Natchez for repairs

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

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. Natchez covers 5 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Natchez’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Natchez. 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 Natchez total about $6.2M 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.