Gulfport, MS Flood Zone Lookup
Last updated: March 2026
Gulfport faces extreme Gulf Coast storm surge risk, as demonstrated by Hurricane Katrina's devastating storm surge in 2005, which reached up to 28 feet along the Mississippi coast. The city continues to rebuild while managing ongoing coastal flood vulnerability.
Harrison County has recorded 15,796 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $1.3B in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 4
NFIP Policies
15,463
Harrison County
Avg. Premium
$1,144/yr
Harrison County
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Harrison County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $33.2M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $5.8M
Hurricane Risk
Very HighEst. annual loss: $86.6M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Harrison County
Harrison County has been included in 25 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 17 earlier declarations since 1998.
These declarations affected communities across Harrison County, including Gulfport.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Harrison County
Properties in Harrison County have filed 15,796 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $1.3B in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $80K.
Highest-Claim Years
2005
8,241 claims - $1.2B
1998
1,512 claims - $18.3M
2002
627 claims - $6.6M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced March 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Harrison County
Only roughly 1 in 5 households in Harrison County carries NFIP flood insurance (19% of estimated households).
Penetration Rate
19%
roughly 1 in 5 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
15,796 claims over 45+ years across 15,463 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$80,143
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Harrison County has averaged 1.0 claims for every active policy (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of March 2026, claims since 1978 (March 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Gulfport.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Gulfport
Gulfport is primarily at risk from coastal flooding, including hurricane storm surge, tidal flooding, and wave action. Coastal storms can push seawater inland with little warning, and properties in VE (Velocity) zones face the most severe exposure to breaking waves. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Gulfport are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $33.2M. Properties in Gulfport's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Coastal flood insurance premiums in Gulfport are typically higher than inland areas due to the destructive force of storm surge and wave action. Properties in VE zones face the highest premiums because wave damage compounds the risk beyond still-water flooding. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
Coastal flood maps are among the most frequently updated in the FEMA system, as shoreline erosion and new storm surge modeling refine the boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) may shift VE and AE zone boundaries after major storms or updated coastal studies. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Gulfport address.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Harrison County
Harrison County has 1,055 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 136 severe repetitive loss properties. 245 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced March 2026.
Multiple Loss
1,055
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
136
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
245
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 1,051 of 1,055 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced March 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Harrison County
NOAA has recorded 76 flood events in Harrison County since 1996, causing $3.3M in damage and 1 death.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced March 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Harrison County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 926 properties in Harrison County, investing $35.2M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced March 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Gulfport
Gulfport participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 8
SFHA Premium Discount
10% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Gulfport's Class 8 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 10% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Gulfport, MS Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Gulfport, MS?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Gulfport are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Gulfport?
If your Gulfport property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since over 40% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Gulfport?
Enter your Gulfport address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
Does Gulfport offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Gulfport participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 8 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 10% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Has Gulfport experienced major flooding events?
Harrison County, where Gulfport is located, has been part of 25 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Ida in 2021. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Gulfport?
Harrison County has recorded 15,796 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $1.3B in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2005, with 8,241 claims and $1.2B in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Gulfport.
How many flood insurance policies are active in Gulfport?
Harrison County currently has 15,463 active NFIP flood insurance policies with an average annual premium of $1,144. The most policies are in Zone AE (7,180 policies). These figures cover all active NFIP policies in the county.
How many Gulfport properties have flooded repeatedly?
Harrison County has 1,055 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 136 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Can my Gulfport property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Gulfport?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Gulfport's Zone AE and Zone VE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
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Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on March 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. This page is for informational purposes only and is not a certified flood zone determination. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.