With over 300 miles of the west sitting at the doorstep of the Mississippi River and 44 miles of coast along the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi faces a higher risk for catastrophic events. Comprised mostly of lowlands, homeowners in this state have a high risk of water claims due to the excessive flooding. The clearing of the land for farms altered Delta's ecology increasing severity of flooding. Different river fronts and water ways were critical for transportation and also serve as contributing factors to flooding. Flooding has been an integral part of Mississippi history.
Thunderstorms are common in this state. Mississippi has an average of 43 tornadoes annually. Northern Mississippi has more storms earlier in the year, while the south has higher frequency later in the year. Two of the five deadliest tornadoes in US history have occurred in this state. This type of natural disaster is enough to deem homeowners as a high risk collectively for large claims.
Late summers brings the risk of hurricanes, moving inland from the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Camille in 1969 was the most devastating hurricanes in U.S history. Hurricane Camille is one of only three category 5 hurricanes ever to make landfall in the Gulf of Mexico. Camille impacted the entire region but since then, aside from Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi has not had the higher risk of devastating storms as neighboring states have. Later in the year, Mississippi does benefit from mostly warm temperatures and thus avoiding many of the types of claims that homeowners in the Northern US have to contend with.
Two Fair Plans are offered to Mississippi residents. The Mississippi Residential Property Insurance is for homeowners unable to obtain coverage in rural areas that offer fire and extended coverage. The Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association was created for homeowners to attain windstorm coverage that can protect homeowners from multiple claims. Between the two state pool options available as well as a thriving private marketplace, homeowners as events that cause insurance claims are mitigated for the potential losses that will occur statewide.