Lyons House · Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Abbeville than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Abbeville gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #157 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%), then hurricanes (43%). Flood insurance has paid 358 claims here since 1978.
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 Abbeville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Abbeville faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
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 Abbeville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Abbeville, and Abbeville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Hurricanes add 43%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #157 of 162 in Louisiana; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
Abbeville’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Louisiana town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Abbeville has more expected damage per building than 97% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.6M a year in losses across Abbeville: $8.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Abbeville flood? Yes: 358 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Abbeville, from FEMA’s records: 59.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-summer severe storms123 claims · $7.6M
- Hurricane Ike44 claims · $1.0M
- Hurricane Rita16 claims · $812K
Abbeville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Vermilion Parish.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Abbeville
Disasters that paid out in Abbeville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Abbeville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Hurricane Ida2 households applied for aid$110K to the City of Abbeville for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Hurricane Delta1,142 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$251K to the City of Abbeville for repairs
- 2020Hurricane Laura1,013 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$252K to the City of Abbeville for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Barry$165K to the City of Abbeville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Tropical Storm Harvey$29K to the City of Abbeville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding1,704 households applied for aid$3.9M aid approved$49K to the City of Abbeville for repairs124 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$10K to the City of Abbeville for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Ike1,134 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$130K to the City of Abbeville for repairs44 flood claims paid for it, $1.0M
- 2008Hurricane Gustav2,665 households applied for aid$725K aid approved$728K to the City of Abbeville for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita7,375 households applied for aid$14.9M aid approved$628K to the City of Abbeville for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $812K
- 2005Hurricane Katrina68 households applied for aid$173K aid approved$67K to the City of Abbeville for repairs
- 2002Hurricane Lili$2.2M to the City of Abbeville for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $117K
Vermilion Parish has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Abbeville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Abbeville archive →Abbeville and its neighbors
Abbeville is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perry | D−more damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Abbeville | D−among the highest damage | river and rain flooding | 358 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Abbeville faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Abbeville
Is Abbeville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Abbeville has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #157 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%) and hurricanes (43%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Abbeville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 358 claims in Abbeville since 1978, $12.1M in all, or 59.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 25 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-summer severe storms (123).
Is Abbeville 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 Vermilion Parish, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 25.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Abbeville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Abbeville’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 Abbeville?
By FEMA money that reached Abbeville, Hurricane Rita (2005): 7,375 households applied for aid, $14.9M approved, and $628K to the City of Abbeville for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-summer severe storms: 123 paid, $7.6M.
Is Abbeville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Abbeville’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Abbeville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Abbeville’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.