Alexandria, LA Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Alexandria is central Louisiana's river flood hub, situated along the Red River. The historic 2016 flooding caused major damage throughout the city when unprecedented rainfall overwhelmed the Red River and its tributaries.
Rapides Parish has recorded 4,231 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $68.0M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 6
NFIP Policies
3,610
Rapides Parish
Avg. Premium
$470/yr
Rapides Parish
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Rapides Parish
Properties in Rapides Parish have filed 4,231 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $68.0M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $16K.
Highest-Claim Years
2008
566 claims - $17.4M
1987
372 claims - $3.8M
2020
298 claims - $12.6M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Rapides Parish
Only roughly 1 in 14 households in Rapides Parish carries NFIP flood insurance (7% of estimated households). This county has elevated flood risk with below-average insurance coverage, meaning many flood losses may go uninsured.
Penetration Rate
7%
roughly 1 in 14 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
4,231 claims over 45+ years across 3,610 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$16,066
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Rapides Parish has averaged 1.2 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. All figures are county-wide and include Alexandria.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Rapides Parish
Rapides Parish has 436 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 92 severe repetitive loss properties. 39 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
436
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
92
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
39
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 427 of 436 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Rapides Parish
Rapides Parish has been included in 36 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 28 earlier declarations since 2012.
These declarations affected communities across Rapides Parish, including Alexandria.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Rapides Parish
NOAA has recorded 49 flood events in Rapides Parish since 1996, causing $59.4M in damage and 2 deaths.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Rapides Parish
FEMA has funded mitigation for 162 properties in Rapides Parish, investing $9.5M 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).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
Levee Protection: Alexandria
The USACE National Levee Database lists 4 levee systems protecting parts of Alexandria. A system's FEMA accreditation status determines how its protected area is mapped: accredited levees are typically mapped as Zone X, while non-accredited or provisionally accredited systems generally leave their protected area in the Special Flood Hazard Area (often Zone AR or A99) until certification is complete.
Red River - South Bank System
AccreditedProtects against: Bayou Rapides - Sponsor: Red River, Atchafalaya, and Bayou Boeuf Levee District - 7.02 sq mi protected
Philip Bayou Levee
AccreditedProtects against: Bayou Rapides, Philip Bayou - Sponsor: City of Alexandria, LA - 0.17 sq mi protected
Bayou Rapides North
Status UnclearSponsor: Red River, Atchafalaya, and Bayou Boeuf Levee District - 0.02 sq mi protected
West of Atchafalaya Basin
AccreditedProtects against: Atchafalaya River, Red River - Sponsor: Atchafalaya Basin Levee District, Red River, Atchafalaya, and Bayou Boeuf Levee District, USACE - New Orleans District - 1,392.13 sq mi protected
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Rapides Parish
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $16.4M
Hurricane Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $6.4M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Alexandria
Alexandria faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Alexandria are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $16.4M.
Riverine flood risk in Alexandria is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Alexandria address.
Alexandria, LA Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Alexandria, LA?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Alexandria are Zone AE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Alexandria?
If your Alexandria property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) 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 federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in Alexandria?
Enter your Alexandria address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
What type of flooding affects Alexandria?
Alexandria is primarily affected by river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall. The most common FEMA flood zone designations are Zone AE, Zone X. Use the free lookup tool above to check the specific flood zone for any Alexandria address.
Has Alexandria experienced major flooding events?
Rapides Parish, where Alexandria is located, has been part of 36 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Tropical Storm Francine in 2024. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Alexandria?
Rapides Parish has recorded 4,231 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $68.0M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2008, with 566 claims and $17.4M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Alexandria.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Alexandria?
Rapides Parish had 3,610 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $470. The most policies are in Zone X (1,470 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many Alexandria properties have flooded repeatedly?
Rapides Parish has 436 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 92 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Is Alexandria protected by a levee?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 4 levee systems protecting parts of Alexandria. Some of these are FEMA-accredited and some are not - accreditation status varies by system, and only the accredited ones map their protected area as Zone X. Levee protection is system-specific, not city-wide - check the address search above for the zone at a specific property.
Can my Alexandria property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Alexandria?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Alexandria's Zone AE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Other Louisiana Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Alexandria, LA Address
Enter a Alexandria, LA address to view its FEMA flood map, 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.