Enter any address in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana to see its FEMA flood zone
Storm surge and tropical storms have been the most frequent causes of flooding in Plaquemines Parish over the last 30 years, accounting for 27 and 23 events respectively. These events have resulted in 5 fatalities. For example, Hurricane Francine made landfall in September 2024 as a Category 2 hurricane, bringing a storm surge of 6-9 feet and 10-15 inches of rainfall, causing widespread damage and significant flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $69,649 and an average water depth of 11.8 feet. Zone X_SHADED also shows a significant number of claims with an average payout of $64,199 and an average water depth of 11.2 feet.
Residents in coastal areas, and those in Zone A or Zone X_SHADED, should pay particular attention to flood risk. Properties located in these zones have historically experienced substantial flooding and financial losses.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
44 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana has recorded 71 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 7 flash floods and 1 river or area floods. The county has received 45 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Tropical Storm Francine | Hurricane | Sep 10, 2024 |
| Hurricane Francine | Hurricane | Sep 9, 2024 |
| Seawater Intrusion | Other | Sep 20, 2023 |
| Tropical Storm Nicholas | Coastal Storm | Sep 12, 2021 |
| Hurricane Ida | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2021 |
| Tropical Storm Ida | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Hurricane Zeta | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2020 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Storm Surge/Tide | Jun 16, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 11, 2024 | 20.00K |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Sep 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Hurricane (Typhoon) | Aug 29, 2021 | 50.00M |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Aug 28, 2021 | 500.00M |
| Coastal Flood | May 19, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Jun 19, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Jun 19, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Hurricane (Typhoon) | Oct 28, 2020 | 10.00M |
Storm Surge/Tide — Jun 16, 2024
As a surface ridge nearby shifted off to the northeast during the 3rd weekend of June, light and variable winds became onshore and more steady state. By June 16th, the surface ridge shifted offshore into the Atlantic Ocean and a surface low pressure was developing as it crossed the Yucatan Peninsula. It was at this point that east to southeast winds increased to 15-20 knots across local coastal...
Tropical Storm — Sep 11, 2024
Hurricane Francine formed as a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico on September 9, 2024, and intensified into a Category 2 hurricane before making landfall near Houma, Louisiana, on the morning of September 11. With sustained winds of 100 mph and gusts peaking at 105 mph, Francine brought widespread damage to southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi. A storm surge of 6-9 feet inundated ...
Storm Surge/Tide — Sep 11, 2024
Hurricane Francine formed as a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico on September 9, 2024, and intensified into a Category 2 hurricane before making landfall near Houma, Louisiana, on the morning of September 11. With sustained winds of 100 mph and gusts peaking at 105 mph, Francine brought widespread damage to southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi. A storm surge of 6-9 feet inundated ...
Hurricane (Typhoon) — Aug 29, 2021
The ninth named storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, Ida originated from a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea on August 23rd. On August 26th, the wave developed into a tropical depression, which organized further and became Tropical Storm Ida later that day, near Grand Cayman. On a northwestward track, Ida intensified into a hurricane on Aug...
Storm Surge/Tide — Aug 28, 2021
The ninth named storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, Ida originated from a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea on August 23rd. On August 26th, the wave developed into a tropical depression, which organized further and became Tropical Storm Ida later that day, near Grand Cayman. On a northwestward track, Ida intensified into a hurricane on Aug...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.