Louisiana Flood Zones
Last updated: August 2026
Louisiana faces extreme flood risk from hurricane storm surge along its Gulf Coast, Mississippi River flooding, and heavy rainfall events. Much of the state sits at or below sea level, and coastal land loss is accelerating flood vulnerability in southern Louisiana.
6 of 64 Louisiana counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. 49 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 35%.
Louisiana has recorded 485,680 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $20.7B in payouts. See how Louisiana compares in our nationwide NFIP claims data breakdown.
FEMA Region
Region 6
Also covers Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, +1 more
NFIP Policies
479,209
Policies effective in the trailing 13 months (July 1, 2025 - August 4, 2026), not a certified point-in-time count
LA Avg. Premium
$993/yr
National average: $915/yr
Louisiana Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 64 Louisiana counties.
Inland Flood Risk
6 of 64 counties rated high or very high
Coastal Flood Risk
10 of 29 coastal counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
24 of 64 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Louisiana properties have filed 485,680 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $20.7B in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout in 2025 was $56,914.
Recent Years
Claims by Decade
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage in Louisiana
Only roughly 1 in 4 households in Louisiana carries NFIP flood insurance (26% of estimated households). 43 of 64 counties have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage. With 3,048 recorded flood events and $11.0B in damage, many flood losses in this state are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
26%
roughly 1 in 4 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
485,680 claims over 45+ years across 479,209 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$42,664
Per claim, state-wide since 1978
Historically, Louisiana has averaged 1.0 claims for every active policy (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI.
Repetitive Loss Properties in Louisiana
Louisiana has 38,481 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 5,411 severe repetitive loss properties. 4,178 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
38,481
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
5,411
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
4,178
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 37,825 of 38,481 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Louisiana has received 72 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
Declarations by Decade
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 72 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events in Louisiana
NOAA has recorded 3,048 flood events in Louisiana since 1996, causing an estimated $11.0B in property and crop damage and 38 deaths.
Total Events
3,048
Total Damage
$11.0B
Fatalities
38
Events by Decade
Costliest Events
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation in Louisiana
FEMA has funded mitigation for 15,422 properties in Louisiana, investing $3.3B in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
Properties by Action
Mitigation by Decade
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Mitigated Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Louisiana
49 Louisiana communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Louisiana range from 3 to 10, with discounts from 0% to 35%.
Class 3 - 35% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
St. John The Baptist Parish
Class 5 - 25% discount
East Baton Rouge Parish
Class 6 - 20% discount
Class 6 - 20% discount
Class 6 - 20% discount
Ascension Parish
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only. CRS classes and discounts are subject to change.
Louisiana Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Louisiana.
Louisiana Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Louisiana property is in a flood zone?
Enter your LA address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.
Do I need flood insurance in Louisiana?
If your Louisiana property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given Louisiana's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Louisiana?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Louisiana are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone AO, Zone AH, Zone A, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.
Can I remove my Louisiana property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Louisiana property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. Note that for coastal properties in VE zones, LOMAs are less common because wave action creates risks beyond still-water elevation. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.
Do any Louisiana communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 49 Louisiana communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for exceeding minimum flood mitigation standards. Residents in participating communities can receive NFIP premium discounts of up to 35% in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Properties outside the SFHA also benefit: CRS classes 1 through 6 receive a 10% discount, and classes 7 through 9 receive a 5% discount on NFIP premiums. Check your city's page on FludZone to see if your community participates.
How much does flood insurance cost in Louisiana?
The average NFIP flood insurance premium in Louisiana is $993 per year across 479,209 active policies. Premiums vary by zone: Zone X policies average $846/yr. Under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, your specific premium depends on property type, elevation relative to the Base Flood Elevation, and distance to water, not just your flood zone designation.
Which Louisiana counties have the highest flood risk?
According to FEMA's National Risk Index, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Livingston are among Louisiana's highest-risk counties for inland flooding. Overall, 6 of 64 Louisiana counties are rated "High" or "Very High" for inland flood risk. County-level ratings account for historical flood losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
How many NFIP flood insurance claims has Louisiana had?
Louisiana has recorded 485,680 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $20.7B in payouts since 1978. The highest-claim year was 2005, with 189,275 claims and $13.6B in payouts. This history reflects cumulative flood damage to Louisiana properties across decades of storm and rainfall events.
How many Louisiana properties have flooded repeatedly?
Louisiana has 38,481 properties with multiple flood losses. Of these, 5,411 are classified as Severe Repetitive Loss, meaning they have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000 or more, or two or more claims where the total exceeds the building value. 4,178 of these properties have been mitigated.
What percentage of Louisiana homes have flood insurance?
Only roughly 1 in 4 households in Louisiana carries NFIP flood insurance (26% of estimated households). 43 counties in Louisiana have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage, indicating a significant protection gap.
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Louisiana.
Look Up Any Louisiana Address
Enter a LA address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.