Biloxi has water on two fronts. The Mississippi Sound runs along the south side of the city, and the Back Bay of Biloxi cuts across its north side all the way west to Big Lake, where the Biloxi and Tchoutacabouffa rivers meet. More than a third of the city's 67.7 square miles is water. A storm that pushes the Sound up also backs water into the bay, so homes that never see a wave can still flood from behind.
The Restoration Job is a referral service and does no restoration work. Our free line, (888) 317-9980, is answered around the clock, and we'll connect you with an independent restoration provider that serves Biloxi, from downtown and the beachfront to the Back Bay side. Providers in the area commonly take on extraction, drying, demolition and storm repairs, and many respond after hours.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Biloxi. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
Surge on the Sound, Backwater in the Bay
Katrina drove a surge of roughly 30 feet into Biloxi on August 29, 2005. Many casino complexes were damaged or destroyed, and the public library flooded several feet deep and had to be rebuilt. At Keesler Air Force Base, about half the base went under water, and the commissary, exchange and some housing units took more than six feet. The Keesler weather station logged an 85-knot gust before its record became incomplete.
Smaller storms matter too. Hurricane Georges made landfall near Biloxi on September 28, 1998, with surge up to 8.9 feet, and more than 1,000 homes flooded along the Mississippi coast. In October 2020, Hurricane Zeta's surge flooded the parking garage of a beachfront casino and partly submerged cars. A few feet of salt water at street level is enough to ruin flooring, lower drywall, water heaters and HVAC equipment.
Watching the Gauges at Popp's Ferry and on the Rivers
The city's storm and flood preparedness page links live readings for the Tchoutacabouffa River, the Biloxi River near Lyman and Wortham, and the tide station at the Popp's Ferry Bridge. Those are the numbers to watch when a system stalls offshore. The rivers respond to rainfall upstream, the tide station to wind and surge from the Sound, and when both rise together the Back Bay shoreline has nowhere to drain.
The same page posts the city flood map and yearly flood insurance reminders. Check your zone before hurricane season, not after. Standard homeowners policies do not cover rising water, and a separate flood policy is how most owners pay for flood cleanup after surge or river flooding.
Historic Downtown Districts and Raised Floors
The city has six historic districts on the National Register, among them East Howard Avenue, Lameuse Street, Reynoir Street, West Central and West Beach. The architecture runs from Queen Anne and Italianate houses to Art Deco storefronts. Many older homes sit on piers, so water damage often hides below the floor in wet subfloor, sagging insulation and rusting ductwork, while plaster and old wood trim dry more slowly than modern materials.
For these buildings, careful water damage repair means saving what can be saved. Original flooring and trim can sometimes be dried in place with controlled dehumidification, but contaminated floodwater usually means porous materials have to come out. Before replacing siding, windows or other exterior features in a historic district, ask the city what approvals apply.
Mold Pressure in a 67-Inch Rain Climate
Biloxi averages about 66.8 inches of rain a year, with July the wettest month at roughly 8 inches. Summer storms, high humidity and warm nights keep indoor air damp, and a leak behind a refrigerator or under a shower pan can grow mold before anyone notices a stain. The EPA's guidance is to dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours.
- Shut off the water at the main for supply-line or water-heater failures.
- Get carpet pad, cardboard boxes and wet bedding out of the house quickly.
- Keep the air conditioning running if it is safe to do so; it removes moisture as well as heat.
- For visible growth larger than a small patch, consider professional mold removal with containment.
Rentals, Military Housing and Commercial Properties
With Keesler in the city and a large hospitality industry along the beach, many people in Biloxi rent or work in buildings they do not own. Tenants should report leaks to the landlord or property manager in writing, photograph damage to their own belongings, and check whether renters insurance covers contents. Owners of restaurants, hotels and shops face lost business as well as building damage, so documenting the cause and timeline of a loss from the first hour helps with any claim.
Biloxi Neighborhoods and Surrounding Towns
Calls come in from across Biloxi, including:
- Downtown Biloxi
- East Howard Avenue
- Lameuse Street
- Reynoir Street
- West Central
- West Beach
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
- D'Iberville
- Gulfport
- Ocean Springs
- Gulf Park Estates
- Long Beach
- Gulf Hills
Frequently Asked Questions
I live on the Back Bay side, not the beach. How does surge reach me?
The Back Bay connects to the Sound through Biloxi Bay. When a storm pushes water onshore, it also fills the bay, and the Biloxi and Tchoutacabouffa rivers cannot drain into it. The result is water rising along the north shore of the peninsula even without waves. Watching the Popp's Ferry tide station and the river gauges on the city's flood page gives a sense of how fast it is rising.
What should a Biloxi business do first after water gets inside?
Make the building safe: shut off power to wet areas and stop any active source. Then photograph everything, including inventory, equipment and the waterline, before cleanup changes it. Call your insurer and keep records of lost operating days. A restoration provider can extract water, set drying equipment and give you moisture readings to document progress for the claim.
Does salt water from surge change how a home in Biloxi is cleaned?
Yes. Salt residue keeps attracting moisture, corrodes metal fasteners and electrical parts, and leaves a film on framing. After surge, providers typically remove soaked drywall and insulation, rinse and clean exposed framing, and then dry the structure. Appliances, water heaters and HVAC components that sat in salt water often need replacement, so have them checked before restarting.