Pascagoula is located at [show location on an interactive map] 30°21′49″N 88°32′31″W / 30.36361°N 88.54194°W / 30.36361; -88.54194 (30.363656, -88.542041)[2], along Mississippi Sound, at the mouth of the Pascagoula River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.2 square miles (47.2 km²), of which, 15.2 square miles (39.3 km²) of it is land and 3.0 square miles (7.9 km²) of it (16.74%) is water.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina's 20-foot (6.1 m) storm surge and 30-55 foot seawaves devastated Pascagoula,[11] much like Biloxi and Gulfport and the rest of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.[12] Katrina came ashore during the high tide of 6:12AM, 2.1 ft (0.64 m) more.[13] Nearly 92% of Pascagoula was flooded. Most homes along Beach Boulevard were destroyed, and FEMA trailers are now an omnipresent sight. Due to the major media focus on the plight of New Orleans and Biloxi-Gulfport in the aftermath of Katrina, many Pascagoula citizens have expressed feeling neglected or even forgotten following the storm. Most Pascagoula residents did not possess flood insurance, and many were required to put their homes on pilings before being given a permit to rebuild.

United States Navy officials announced that two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers that were under construction at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula had been damaged by the storm, as well as the Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island.

Hurricane Katrina damaged over 40 Mississippi libraries, flooding the Pascagoula Public Library, first floor, and causing mold in the building..