484,881 flood insurance claims·$20.7B paid·397,411 policies in force
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Louisiana. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Louisiana faces a mixed flood-risk profile characterized predominantly by frequent flash floods alongside severe tropical weather and coastal hazards. Over the last 30 years, NOAA data records 2,695 flash flood events resulting in 28 deaths, alongside hundreds of events involving tropical storms, riverine floods, and hurricanes. While hurricanes account for fewer total events at 237, they represent the deadliest hazard in the state with 209 recorded deaths, complemented by hazards from storm surges, tides, and coastal flooding. Recent federal disaster declarations highlight this ongoing vulnerability, including the 2024 federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Francine, associated with Tropical Storm Francine.
National Flood Insurance Program claims data demonstrates that risk extends across multiple zones, with the vast majority of claims concentrated in FEMA Zone A, which accounts for 331,605 claims and over $15.9 billion paid total. This indicates that high-risk coastal and riverine areas face the greatest financial exposure and need for coverage. However, significant claim volumes also occur outside primary high-risk zones. Residents in Zone X categories account for tens of thousands of claims totaling billions in payouts—including 60,683 claims in Zone X overall, 39,241 in shaded areas, and 28,853 in unshaded areas—showing that property owners in moderate-to-low risk zones experience frequent unexpected flood losses.
Summary generated from FEMA disaster declarations, NOAA storm events, and NFIP claim data. Updated quarterly.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims, Policies, and Disaster Declarations data. NFIP policies in force and average premium (premium plus federal policy fee) as of August 31, 2026, from OpenFEMA.
Louisiana has received 2,670 federal disaster declarations, including 567 flood and coastal storm declarations and 806 hurricane declarations.
NFIP claims by county, 1978 to date. Source: OpenFEMA. Counties ranked by recorded flood events →
Properties in Louisiana FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, are required to carry flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Louisiana had 397,411 NFIP policies in force on August 31, 2026, and the average NFIP premium was $1,052 a year (premium plus the federal policy fee; the reserve fund assessment and HFIAA surcharge come on top, and nationally they make actual bills about a quarter higher). Under FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 each building is priced on its own flood risk, so a state average says little about what any one home will pay.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from properties outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Louisiana residents can purchase flood insurance through the NFIP or private insurers.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.
See the most flood-prone counties in Louisiana →
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