Natural hazards · Ocean Springs

Ocean Springs, MS natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Ocean Springs comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 860 claims here since 1978. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Ocean Springs?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Ocean Springs to be higher than in 91% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes60%Inland flooding22%Tornadoes5%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Ocean Springs faces

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

Hurricanes

60% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

22% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 60% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 66% 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 Ocean Springs flood?

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

860paid claims since 1978

$85.6Mpaid to owners

45homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Katrina: 515 claims, $81.9M
Hurricane Georges: 70 claims, $744K
Hurricane Zeta: 33 claims, $376K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (9) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Jackson County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

221buildings retrofitted against wind

6flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

4storm safe rooms built

3flood-prone homes bought out and moved

Disasters that hit Ocean Springs

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Ocean SpringsDeclared for Jackson County only

2023

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes.

21 households applied for aid $11K aid approved

2021

Hurricane Ida

106 households applied for aid $67K aid approved

2020

Hurricane Zeta

696 households applied for aid $597K aid approved

2012

Hurricane Isaac

498 households applied for aid $199K aid approved

2008

Hurricane Gustav

1 household applied for aid

2005

Hurricane Katrina

19,769 households applied for aid $70.2M aid approved

2004

Hurricane Ivan

242 households applied for aid $212K aid approved

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

Around Ocean Springs

Ocean Springs and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Gautiermostly hurricanesVery high

Gulf Park Estatesmostly hurricanesVery high

Gulf Hillsmostly hurricanesVery high

Ocean Springsmostly hurricanesVery high

St. Martinmostly hurricanesVery high

Biloximostly 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. Ocean Springs covers 4 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Ocean Springs’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Ocean Springs. 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 Ocean Springs total about $17.1M 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.