How much flood risk does Monroe County actually carry?
Monroe County lands at the 52.4th percentile of FEMA's National Risk Index for flooding, "Relatively Low" territory — below the national norm for flood hazard — with the hazard driven by inland rivers and flash flooding rather than the coast — FEMA's model puts a flood event here at about once every 1 years. This describes the county, not any one street — FEMA only publishes exact parcel zones through a live map service.
Who actually carries the flood insurance FEMA requires
Out of 611 homes FEMA counts inside Monroe County's mapped flood zone, 203 carry the flood policy federal law requires there — 33.2% compliance, short of full coverage. Across all residential structures in Monroe County, not just the ones FEMA mandates, 2.1% carry an NFIP policy — most flood damage nationally happens outside the mapped high-risk zone, so that broader number matters too.
Monroe County against the rest of the country
Monroe County sits at rank 1560 of 3144 counties on FEMA's flood hazard scale (1 is worst) and rank 1352 of 3144 by population (1 is biggest). Monroe County, Mississippi covers 765.128 square miles and counts roughly 33,483 residents.
What to do next if you own or are buying in Monroe County
FEMA counts 10,819 residential structures in Monroe County overall, 225 of them carrying some form of NFIP coverage — but a lender or insurer cares about one parcel, not that county total.
More on how this number was built
The methodology guide shows exactly which FEMA and Census tables feed Monroe County's numbers. The guide to what the Special Flood Hazard Area actually means explains why the mandatory-insurance rule exists and who it applies to.