Jackson County, MS Environment & Hazard Risk

• HurricaneRelatively High$62.3M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• LightningRelatively High$1.7M/yr expected annual loss, about 87 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Moderate$2.6M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 172 years
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$3.3M/yr expected annual loss, about 14 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$6.5M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Coastal floodingRelatively High$3.4M/yr expected annual loss, about 5.1 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$2.9M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$170K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$87.2K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• HailRelatively Low$360K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.6 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$376K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 969 years
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$536K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.4 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Low$151K/yr expected annual loss, about 18 events a year
• LandslideVery Low$395/yr expected annual loss, about once every 9 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

10,397 of 55,754 (18.6%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

13,969

Insured in high-risk zones

7,721 (55%)

Flood claims since 1978

11,325

Claims paid since 1978

$721M

• Thunderstorm Wind89
• Hail63
• Excessive Heat45
• Tornado45 · 1 death
• Flash Flood42
• Drought20
• Lightning18 · 1 death
• Funnel Cloud7
• Extreme Cold/Wind Chill4
• Heavy Rain3

• TornadoEF1, 0.86 mi path, 50 yd wide10/28/2021

  Eastside, Jackson County

  1 death, $150K damage

  What happened

  A tornado touched down near the intersection of Billy and 1st streets where it did some minor tree damage. It proceeded northeast where it removed a large section of the roof of a well-built home on Charles Street. It continued northeast where it did|some minor roof and tree damage. It crossed Highway 63 near Rock Creek Road where it interacted with a southbound vehicle. The driver loss control of their vehicle and died after being ejected. The tornado continued northeast where it damaged parked vehicles and the roof of homes along Gregory and Edna Streets. The tornado|proceeded northeast where it did additional minor roof and tree damage before lifting near Mary Avenue.

• Lightning07/31/2011

  Pascagoula, Jackson County

  1 death

  What happened

  Broadcast media reported that a person was struck and killed by lightning while on the pier at Pascagoula Beach Pier.

• Heavy Snow01/21/2025

  Southern Jackson County

  1 death

  What happened

  Around five to ten inches of snow fell across the county beginning in the early morning hours and tapering off late in the afternoon. The highest reported amount was 9 inches in Ocean Springs. There was 1 indirect fatality. It occurred ln Thursday, January 23 at 1:08 PM as a male driver slid into a ditch at 5804 Wildwood Rd. after hitting a patch of ice. This caused the car to flip, and the man became wedged in the car and suffocate the man.

• TornadoEF2, 2.35 mi path, 300 yd wide06/19/2023

  Escatawpa, Jackson County

  6 injured, $773K damage

  What happened

  A 130MPH EF2 tornado touched down near the confluence of the Pascagoula River and Escatawpa River at 2:48 PM CDT and moved southeast across the River and into the neighborhood on Griffin Street. Widespread tree branches were downed, along with some uprooted trees. Several homes had minor to moderate damage to siding and roofing. A fifth wheel RV was turned over on its side. At 2:54 PM CDT the tornado moved southeast towards Dantzler St. The damage was sporadic as it moved but one house on Bellview Ave took major roof damage, the carport collapsed and a motorhome parked nearby was overturned. It continued east-southeast over wetlands towards Main Street then sharply turned to the south-southeast. The tornado moved south along Main Street between Bellview Ave through E Bayou Ave. Numerous structures took roof damage with the most significant damage seen at the Merchants & Marines Bank and the First Missionary Baptist Church. Both buildings had the majority of the roof removed and several windows blown out. The Church's brick signage was completely destroyed. Several nearby older houses also received significant roof damage. This damage was the peak of this tornado with max winds...

• Lightning06/28/2004

  Pascagoula, Jackson County

  3 injured

  What happened

  Three people were struck by lightning at a ship yard. One person was transported to a hospital and suffered burns on his face and hands and a broken jaw.

• Thunderstorm Wind65 kt wind04/15/2014

  Gautier, Jackson County

  2 injured, $100K damage

  What happened

  A storm survey determined that straight line winds estimated between 75 and 80 mph struck the Santa Rosa RV Resort Marina at 5800 Moss Bluff Road. Twenty RV trailers were overturned, with one rolled uphill. Several trees were topped along with large live oak limbs broken. Two stucco veneer walls on an apartment structure collapsed. Two individuals were extracted from one trailer that was destroyed and were hospitalized for moderate injuries. Event time was estimated by storm relative motion data from KLIX and KMOB radars.

• West Jackson Co Utility DistServes 28,544 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• City of Ocean SpringsServes 26,168 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• City of PascagoulaServes 22,686 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+9 monitoring or reporting
• City of GautierServes 22,253 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• City of Moss PointServes 12,524 · Groundwater · Local government2 health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Jackson Co Utility Authority-EastServes 6,270 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
• Jackson Co Utility Authority-WestServes 6,178 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
• Gulf ParkServes 4,813 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting