Pascagoula, MS Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Pascagoula sits at the mouth of the Pascagoula River with near-total VE zone coverage along the coast. Hurricane Katrina's 28-foot storm surge caused catastrophic destruction throughout this Gulf Coast shipbuilding city.
Jackson County has recorded 11,322 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $707.5M 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
13,768
Jackson County
Avg. Premium
$1,315/yr
Jackson County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Jackson County
Properties in Jackson County have filed 11,322 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $707.5M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $62K.
Highest-Claim Years
2005
5,414 claims - $627.0M
1998
1,978 claims - $29.9M
2012
839 claims - $16.7M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Jackson County
Only roughly 1 in 4 households in Jackson County carries NFIP flood insurance (24% of estimated households).
Penetration Rate
24%
roughly 1 in 4 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
11,322 claims over 45+ years across 13,768 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$62,486
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Jackson County has averaged 1 claim 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 August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Pascagoula.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Jackson County
Jackson County has 1,250 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 132 severe repetitive loss properties. 150 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
1,250
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
132
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
150
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 1,241 of 1,250 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Pascagoula
Pascagoula 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). Pascagoula'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.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Jackson County
Jackson County has been included in 25 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 17 earlier declarations since 1998.
These declarations affected communities across Jackson County, including Pascagoula.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Jackson County
NOAA has recorded 40 flood events in Jackson County since 1996, causing $4.2M in damage.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Jackson County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 550 properties in Jackson County, investing $47.8M 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 August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Jackson 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: $26.5M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $3.4M
Hurricane Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $62.3M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Pascagoula
Pascagoula faces a combination of coastal and inland flood risks. Storm surge from hurricanes and tropical storms pushes seawater inland, while heavy rainfall simultaneously overwhelms rivers, bayous, and drainage infrastructure. This dual threat means flooding can come from multiple directions at once. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Pascagoula are Zone VE, Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $26.5M. Properties in Pascagoula's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Combined coastal and inland flood exposure in Pascagoula means properties may face higher premiums than areas with only one flood source. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 accounts for multiple flood sources, including coastal surge distance, river proximity, and rainfall-driven 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.
Flood maps in areas with combined coastal and inland risk are among the most complex in the FEMA system. Major storms often trigger FEMA restudies that can significantly shift zone boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) after hurricanes may expand SFHA coverage as new storm data is incorporated. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Pascagoula address.
Pascagoula, MS Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Pascagoula, MS?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Pascagoula are Zone VE, Zone AE, 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 Pascagoula?
If your Pascagoula 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 about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in Pascagoula?
Enter your Pascagoula 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 Pascagoula offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Pascagoula 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 Pascagoula experienced major flooding events?
Jackson County, where Pascagoula 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 Pascagoula?
Jackson County has recorded 11,322 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $707.5M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2005, with 5,414 claims and $627.0M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Pascagoula.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Pascagoula?
Jackson County had 13,768 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $1,315. The most policies are in Zone AE (9,520 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many Pascagoula properties have flooded repeatedly?
Jackson County has 1,250 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 132 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 Pascagoula 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 Pascagoula?
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 Pascagoula's Zone VE and Zone AE 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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Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Pascagoula, MS Address
Enter a Pascagoula, MS address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
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 August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.