Louisiana flood insurance and flood history
From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08
FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 485,743 flood insurance claims in Louisiana since 1978. The NFIP paid $21.0 billion on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).
The year with the most claims was 2005, with 189,275, mostly from Hurricane Katrina.
In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 36,136 claims, and the average paid claim was $56,717.
27% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).
About 22.0% of homes in Louisiana had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (359,013 of 1,629,418 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 73% (182,555 of 249,660).
Since 2000, FEMA has made 15 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of Louisiana. The most recent was DR-4606-LA (Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding), declared June 2, 2021.
Flood insurance claims in Louisiana by year
Show as a table
| Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 869 | $32.3 million |
| 2025 | 606 | $34.5 million |
| 2024 | 2,859 | $113.0 million |
| 2023 | 259 | $4.9 million |
| 2022 | 326 | $3.5 million |
| 2021 | 19,526 | $953.9 million |
| 2020 | 5,042 | $173.0 million |
| 2019 | 3,120 | $101.8 million |
| 2018 | 649 | $14.2 million |
| 2017 | 2,880 | $83.4 million |
| 2016 | 36,026 | $2.8 billion |
| 2015 | 868 | $14.9 million |
| 2014 | 794 | $16.1 million |
| 2013 | 1,218 | $19.8 million |
| 2012 | 14,860 | $539.7 million |
| 2011 | 2,861 | $45.6 million |
| 2010 | 386 | $3.3 million |
| 2009 | 2,661 | $38.8 million |
| 2008 | 16,972 | $460.0 million |
| 2007 | 596 | $5.7 million |
| 2006 | 1,253 | $22.9 million |
| 2005 | 189,275 | $13.8 billion |
| 2004 | 2,637 | $32.2 million |
| 2003 | 1,802 | $11.9 million |
| 2002 | 12,987 | $133.2 million |
| 2001 | 8,757 | $103.4 million |
| 2000 | 524 | $2.1 million |
| 1999 | 1,392 | $14.7 million |
| 1998 | 9,770 | $78.2 million |
| 1997 | 2,385 | $22.6 million |
| 1996 | 958 | $6.0 million |
| 1995 | 38,330 | $606.3 million |
| 1994 | 1,559 | $8.8 million |
| 1993 | 2,585 | $25.7 million |
| 1992 | 3,897 | $33.7 million |
| 1991 | 8,616 | $75.1 million |
| 1990 | 4,214 | $27.6 million |
| 1989 | 8,233 | $74.5 million |
| 1988 | 4,406 | $19.4 million |
| 1987 | 868 | $5.8 million |
| 1986 | 400 | $1.9 million |
| 1985 | 7,627 | $91.9 million |
| 1984 | 1,572 | $9.0 million |
| 1983 | 18,418 | $123.0 million |
| 1982 | 6,554 | $35.0 million |
| 1981 | 1,534 | $4.2 million |
| 1980 | 18,471 | $106.3 million |
| 1979 | 4,329 | $17.4 million |
| 1978 | 9,012 | $48.8 million |
Biggest flood events by NFIP payments
The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for Louisiana, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.
| Event | Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Katrina | 2005 | 176,276 | $13.3 billion |
| Mid-summer severe storms | 2016 | 30,019 | $2.5 billion |
| Hurricane Ida | 2021 | 14,677 | $692.3 million |
| Flooding | 1995 | 36,820 | $594.4 million |
| Hurricane Isaac | 2012 | 13,318 | $513.3 million |
| Hurricane Rita | 2005 | 10,810 | $415.2 million |
| Hurricane Ike | 2008 | 8,618 | $334.9 million |
| Late winter severe storms | 2016 | 5,019 | $245.2 million |
| 2021 Mid-Spring Severe Storms | 2021 | 3,404 | $230.6 million |
| Flooding | 1983 | 14,348 | $105.4 million |
What flood insurance costs in Louisiana
On June 30, 2026, 403,299 NFIP flood insurance policies were in force in Louisiana. For the 323,031 single-family homes among them, the typical (median) yearly cost was about $1,090; the average was $1,210.
| Rated flood zone | Policies | Typical yearly cost, single-family home | Average cost | Average building coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-risk zones (A and V) | 204,430 | $1,210 | $1,400 | $202,000 |
| Moderate- and low-risk zones (B, C and X) | 198,863 | $1,090 | $1,020 | $228,000 |
Cost here is what FEMA's data lists as the policy cost: the premium plus the reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge. It covers single-family homes only (not condos, apartments or businesses), with costs rounded to the nearest $10 and shown only where at least 20 homes back the figure. Your own price depends on your building and the coverage you choose; see how flood insurance is priced. Private flood insurance isn't included.
Policies and average cost by exact flood zone
Flood history by county
Every Louisiana county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy; "typical NFIP cost" is the median yearly cost for single-family homes.
| County | Claims | Paid | Insured | Typical NFIP cost | Flood declarations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Parish | 135,664 | $3.6 billion | 64.9% | $1,140 | 3 |
| Orleans Parish | 127,255 | $7.3 billion | 51.8% | $1,090 | 2 |
| St. Tammany Parish | 38,420 | $1.8 billion | 40.4% | $1,160 | 4 |
| St. Bernard Parish | 23,919 | $2.2 billion | 56.8% | $1,090 | 2 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish | 22,575 | $1.3 billion | 24.0% | $640 | 5 |
| Livingston Parish | 14,639 | $835.2 million | 26.6% | $1,210 | 6 |
| Terrebonne Parish | 13,501 | $326.6 million | 32.2% | $1,340 | 7 |
| Calcasieu Parish | 10,386 | $324.0 million | 16.9% | $1,240 | 5 |
| St. John the Baptist Parish | 8,979 | $655.3 million | 34.2% | $1,340 | 4 |
| St. Charles Parish | 7,568 | $161.4 million | 55.7% | $1,140 | 5 |
| Ouachita Parish | 6,984 | $162.9 million | 7.5% | $590 | 5 |
| Ascension Parish | 6,783 | $353.6 million | 28.9% | $890 | 6 |
| Lafayette Parish | 6,579 | $266.7 million | 19.0% | $1,040 | 4 |
| Lafourche Parish | 6,203 | $104.0 million | 23.0% | $1,160 | 6 |
| Plaquemines Parish | 6,086 | $381.8 million | 51.1% | $1,210 | 3 |
| Vermilion Parish | 4,799 | $187.1 million | 25.3% | $1,260 | 4 |
| Tangipahoa Parish | 4,296 | $177.6 million | 15.1% | $1,090 | 4 |
| Rapides Parish | 4,231 | $68.3 million | 5.1% | $540 | 6 |
| Cameron Parish | 3,470 | $210.0 million | 30.1% | $1,560 | 3 |
| Iberia Parish | 2,891 | $88.9 million | 11.6% | $1,260 | 5 |
| St. Mary Parish | 2,532 | $37.3 million | 12.4% | $1,290 | 7 |
| Caddo Parish | 2,438 | $42.0 million | 4.3% | $740 | 3 |
| Pointe Coupee Parish | 1,896 | $26.0 million | 11.2% | $460 | 8 |
| Avoyelles Parish | 1,652 | $18.1 million | 4.6% | $460 | 5 |
| Catahoula Parish | 1,627 | $14.7 million | 13.3% | $410 | 9 |
| Acadia Parish | 1,481 | $37.0 million | 9.2% | $1,140 | 6 |
| St. Martin Parish | 1,466 | $28.2 million | 9.9% | $940 | 8 |
| Concordia Parish | 1,211 | $11.7 million | 8.8% | $440 | 8 |
| Bossier Parish | 1,107 | $26.1 million | 9.3% | $460 | 4 |
| St. Landry Parish | 976 | $22.2 million | 6.3% | $910 | 9 |
| Assumption Parish | 883 | $5.1 million | 11.8% | $1,110 | 7 |
| Washington Parish | 674 | $15.6 million | 2.5% | $1,090 | 3 |
| Iberville Parish | 618 | $13.8 million | 10.2% | $810 | 8 |
| Natchitoches Parish | 541 | $9.9 million | 3.3% | $610 | 6 |
| Beauregard Parish | 516 | $8.8 million | 1.9% | $1,090 | 5 |
| Caldwell Parish | 490 | $5.3 million | 8.3% | $410 | 5 |
| Richland Parish | 473 | $11.1 million | 5.9% | $610 | 4 |
| Allen Parish | 442 | $9.5 million | 3.3% | $890 | 4 |
| Grant Parish | 438 | $5.3 million | 1.9% | $760 | 4 |
| Union Parish | 380 | $9.0 million | 2.7% | $1,310 | 4 |
| West Feliciana Parish | 370 | $4.3 million | 2.0% | $1,090 | 8 |
| St. James Parish | 342 | $7.5 million | 11.3% | $1,090 | 4 |
| Vernon Parish | 338 | $9.4 million | 1.7% | $1,090 | 4 |
| Franklin Parish | 320 | $5.4 million | 3.1% | $640 | 7 |
| Jefferson Davis Parish | 313 | $6.2 million | 7.1% | $1,210 | 6 |
| Evangeline Parish | 286 | $6.4 million | 3.9% | $760 | 4 |
| West Baton Rouge Parish | 285 | $7.4 million | 12.2% | $590 | 5 |
| LaSalle Parish | 271 | $3.4 million | 1.4% | $810 | 5 |
| Madison Parish | 250 | $2.7 million | 6.9% | $560 | 6 |
| Morehouse Parish | 239 | $6.9 million | 1.4% | $590 | 3 |
| Webster Parish | 223 | $7.2 million | 0.6% | $1,240 | 3 |
| Tensas Parish | 161 | $2.9 million | 8.1% | $510 | 4 |
| Winn Parish | 140 | $2.4 million | 0.7% | $860 | 3 |
| East Carroll Parish | 116 | $2.0 million | 5.7% | $510 | 6 |
| East Feliciana Parish | 110 | $3.2 million | 1.7% | $1,090 | 3 |
| Claiborne Parish | 68 | $1.8 million | 1.3% | $1,190 | 3 |
| St. Helena Parish | 65 | $2.6 million | 1.5% | $1,090 | 4 |
| West Carroll Parish | 63 | $1.8 million | 1.8% | $510 | 2 |
| Lincoln Parish | 56 | $594,033 | 0.6% | $1,010 | 2 |
| Bienville Parish | 41 | $485,752 | 0.1% | n/a | 3 |
| Sabine Parish | 40 | $697,972 | 0.7% | $1,090 | 4 |
| De Soto Parish | 39 | $827,276 | 0.7% | $640 | 4 |
| Jackson Parish | 20 | $101,000 | 0.4% | $890 | 2 |
| Red River Parish | 16 | $381,799 | 0.9% | $510 | 4 |
Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in Louisiana
Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.
| Declaration | Declared | Event | Help for individuals |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR-4606-LA | Jun 2, 2021 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-4462-LA | Sep 19, 2019 | Flooding | No |
| EM-3413-LA | May 29, 2019 | Flooding | No |
| DR-4277-LA | Aug 14, 2016 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-4263-LA | Mar 13, 2016 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Yes |
| EM-3376-LA | Feb 5, 2016 | Flooding | No |
| DR-4228-LA | Jul 13, 2015 | Severe Storms and Flooding | No |
| DR-4102-LA | Feb 22, 2013 | Severe Storms and Flooding | No |
| DR-4015-LA | Aug 18, 2011 | Flooding | No |
| EM-3322-LA | May 6, 2011 | Flooding | No |
| DR-1863-LA | Dec 10, 2009 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | No |
| DR-1792-LA | Sep 13, 2008 | Hurricane Ike | Yes |
| DR-1786-LA | Sep 2, 2008 | Hurricane Gustav | Yes |
| DR-1668-LA | Nov 2, 2006 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-1521-LA | Jun 8, 2004 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Yes |
What to do with this
A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.
Where these numbers come from
All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:
- NFIP Redacted Claims (v3) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP claims since 1978, downloaded 2026-10-08. Dollar amounts are what the NFIP paid, not adjusted for inflation. Claims filed under private flood insurance aren't included.
- NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (v1) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP residential policy contracts in force (as of August 3, 2026) divided by FEMA's count of residential buildings from the National Structure Inventory. FEMA notes that inventory is incomplete in some counties, which can inflate the rate. Private flood policies aren't counted.
- NFIP Redacted Policies (v3) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP policies in force on June 30, 2026 (a policy counts if its term covers that date and it wasn't cancelled), downloaded 2026-10-08. Policy counts are FEMA's insured units, so a condominium association policy counts each unit. Costs are FEMA's "policy cost" (premium plus reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge) for single-family homes only. Policies FEMA's data doesn't place in a county count toward the state only.
- Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): disaster declarations, downloaded 2026-10-08. We count a declaration as flood-related when FEMA lists flooding (or a dam or levee break) as its incident type or a designated incident type, or the declaration's title mentions flooding.
FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.