Natural hazards · Port Gibson

Port Gibson, MS natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Port Gibson comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 21 claims here since 1979. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Port Gibson?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Port Gibson to be higher than in 70% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding46%Tornadoes24%Hail8%Hurricanes6%Heat waves6%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Port Gibson faces

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

Inland flooding

46% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Tornadoes

24% of expected damage

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

Hail

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

6% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 12 years in the area

Heat waves

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places

Recorded about 17 times a year in the area

Lower here

Ice stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 Port Gibson flood?

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

21paid claims since 1979

$112Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Mid-spring storms: 2 claims, $5K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Claiborne County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

2storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Port Gibson

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Port GibsonDeclared for Claiborne County only

2026

Severe Winter Storm

1,084 households applied for aid $5.0M aid approved

2021

Severe Winter Storms

$14K to the City of Port Gibson for repairs

2020

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

$66K to the City of Port Gibson for repairs

2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

$19K to the City of Port Gibson for repairs

2011

Flooding

118 households applied for aid $151K aid approved $23K to the City of Port Gibson for repairs

2008

Hurricane Gustav

$11K to the City of Port Gibson for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

1,321 households applied for aid $1.0M aid approved $23K to the City of Port Gibson for repairs

2003

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Floods

14 households applied for aid $14K aid approved

Claiborne County has had 23 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

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. Port Gibson covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Port Gibson’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Port Gibson. 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 Port Gibson total about $932K 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.