Flood insurance in Mississippi

Flood insurance policies, average premiums, flood zones and claims history for Mississippi, county by county, from official FEMA records.

Policies as of 5 September 2026Source: FEMA OpenFEMA
Active flood policies
48,510
NFIP policies in force
Average yearly premium
$1,233
$37 below the US average
Claims paid since 1978
$3.1B
across 64,589 claims
Policies in high-risk zones
68%
zones A and V, where known

Flood claims paid per year

NFIP claims paid in Mississippi, 2000–2026

The three costliest years. The worst was 2005, with $2.5 billion paid on 19,764 claims.

Insured buildings by flood zone

Zone V / VE5%
Coastal high-hazard areas with wave action. Flood insurance is required with a federally backed mortgage.
Zone A / AE64%
High-risk areas with a 1% chance of flooding each year. Insurance is required with a federally backed mortgage.
Zone X, B, C32%
Moderate to low risk. Insurance is optional, and policies are usually much cheaper.

Zone not reported for 29% of policies; shares are of policies with a known zone.

Costliest flood events

Named events by NFIP claims paid in Mississippi

EventYearClaimsPaid
Hurricane Katrina200519,051$2.5 billion
Mid-spring storms2011926$46.5 million
Hurricane Georges19983,187$45.4 million
Hurricane Isaac20122,198$43.0 million
Flooding19833,098$32.7 million

Flood insurance by county

Counties in Mississippi with detailed pages, by number of policies. 48 smaller counties are included in the state totals.

CountyPoliciesAvg premiumClaims since 1978Paid
Harrison County13,246$1,37915,939$1.3 billion
Jackson County11,757$1,37311,325$720.7 million
Hancock County7,371$1,2669,927$745.6 million
Hinds County2,584$1,6104,716$70.8 million
Rankin County1,657$988978$20.9 million
Washington County1,387$7821,955$37.0 million
Madison County806$8121,003$10.1 million
Lowndes County721$8771,186$7.2 million
Pearl River County707$798828$18.1 million
Forrest County600$1,0401,755$12.8 million
Leflore County565$717443$4.4 million
DeSoto County542$1,004280$6.7 million
Bolivar County413$880994$21.7 million
Warren County367$7492,690$35.6 million
Marion County214$803685$7.3 million
Wilkinson County59$9081,394$18.7 million

Common questions

How much does flood insurance cost in Mississippi?

The average NFIP flood insurance policy in Mississippi costs about $1,233 a year. Your own premium depends on your building's flood risk, elevation and the coverage you choose.

How many homes have flood insurance in Mississippi?

There are about 48,510 National Flood Insurance Program policies in force in Mississippi, according to FEMA's latest policy data. Private flood policies are not included.

How often does Mississippi flood?

Since 1978, NFIP policyholders in Mississippi have filed 64,589 flood claims, with $3.1 billion paid out. 4,732 of those claims were in the last 10 years.

Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?

No. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies exclude flood damage. You need a separate flood policy from the NFIP or a private insurer.

How long until a new flood policy starts?

NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, so buying when a storm is already forecast is normally too late. Exceptions apply, for example when a lender requires the policy at closing.

How to get flood insurance

Most flood policies are sold through the National Flood Insurance Program by regular insurance agents. Ask the agent who handles your home or car insurance, or find one through FloodSmart.gov, FEMA's official flood insurance site. Private flood insurers also sell policies in many areas and are worth comparing.