Bishop Manor Estate (Additional Documentation) · Photo: rossograph · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Bayou La Batre than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bayou La Batre gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (59%), then river and rain flooding (24%). Flood insurance has paid 486 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Bayou La Batre’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bayou La Batre faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
Coastal flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Bayou La Batre’s grade
Hurricanes are 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bayou La Batre, and Bayou La Batre’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 10%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bayou La Batre’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Bayou La Batre: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bayou La Batre flood? Yes: 486 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bayou La Batre, from FEMA’s records: 627.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Katrina196 claims · $21.5M
- Hurricane Frederic108 claims · $2.2M
- Hurricane Georges92 claims · $3.0M
Bayou La Batre isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Mobile County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bayou La Batre
Disasters that paid out in Bayou La Batre itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bayou La Batre), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2020Hurricane Zeta49 households applied for aid$53K aid approved$91K to the City of Bayou La Batre for repairs18 flood claims paid for it, $968K
- 2020Hurricane Sally180 households applied for aid$273K aid approved$10K to the City of Bayou La Batre for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Nate$55K to the City of Bayou La Batre for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding16 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$61K to the City of Bayou La Batre for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 13
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Hurricane Ike$2K to the City of Bayou La Batre for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Gustav$10K to the City of Bayou La Batre for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina1,184 households applied for aid$8.2M aid approved$418K to the City of Bayou La Batre for repairs196 flood claims paid for it, $21.5M
- 2005Hurricane Dennis16 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$9K to the City of Bayou La Batre for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan312 households applied for aid$278K aid approved$97K to the City of Bayou La Batre for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding37 households applied for aid$59K aid approved
- 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$46K to the City of Bayou La Batre for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
Mobile County has had 33 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms.
Old photos of Bayou La Batre after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bayou La Batre archive →Get ready for what Bayou La Batre faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Bayou La Batre
Is Bayou La Batre at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bayou La Batre has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (59%) and river and rain flooding (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bayou La Batre flood?
Flood insurance has paid 486 claims in Bayou La Batre since 1979, $29.9M in all, or 627.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 81 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Katrina (196).
Is Bayou La Batre in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Mobile County, 45% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bayou La Batre?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bayou La Batre’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Bayou La Batre?
By FEMA money that reached Bayou La Batre, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 1,184 households applied for aid, $8.2M approved, and $418K to the City of Bayou La Batre for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Katrina: 196 paid, $21.5M.
Is Bayou La Batre at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Bayou La Batre’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bayou La Batre.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bayou La Batre’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.