Natural hazards · Waveland

Waveland, MS natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Waveland comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1,418 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 Waveland?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Waveland to be higher than in 89% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes52%Inland flooding28%Tornadoes7%Everything else14%

By hazard

What Waveland faces

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

Hurricanes

52% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

28% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 67% 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 Waveland flood?

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

1,418paid claims since 1978

$185Mpaid to owners

43homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Katrina: 1,193 claims, $182M
Hurricane Isaac: 26 claims, $648K
Tropical Storm Isidore: 17 claims, $112K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (12) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Waveland is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Hancock County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

18buildings retrofitted against wind

7flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

1storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Waveland

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WavelandDeclared for Hancock County only

2026

Tropical Storm Arthur

45 households applied for aid $22K aid approved

2026

Severe Winter Storm

1 household applied for aid

2024

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

9 households applied for aid $853 aid approved

2021

Hurricane Ida

46 households applied for aid $34K aid approved

2020

Hurricane Zeta

354 households applied for aid $250K aid approved $5.2M to the City of Waveland for repairs

2012

Hurricane Isaac

246 households applied for aid $67K aid approved $855K to the City of Waveland for repairs

2008

Hurricane Gustav

90 households applied for aid $67K aid approved $3.3M to the City of Waveland for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

4,912 households applied for aid $47.8M aid approved $128M to the City of Waveland for repairs

2005

Hurricane Dennis

$17K to the City of Waveland for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

8 households applied for aid $5K aid approved $112K to the City of Waveland for repairs

2002

Tropical Storm Isidore

$247K to the City of Waveland for repairs

2001

Tropical Storm Allison

$8K to the City of Waveland for repairs

Hancock County has had 23 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. Waveland covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Waveland’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Waveland. 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 Waveland total about $3.1M 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.