Photo: Z28scrambler · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Berwick than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berwick gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #99 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (83%), then river and rain flooding (12%). Flood insurance has paid 82 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 Berwick’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Berwick 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
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 Berwick’s grade
Hurricanes are 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Berwick, and Berwick’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #99 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Berwick’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Louisiana town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Berwick has more expected damage per building than 61% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.9M a year in losses across Berwick: $4.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Berwick flood? Sometimes: 82 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Berwick, from FEMA’s records: 41.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms9 claims · $203K
- Hurricane Francine4 claims · $73K
- Hurricane Lili3 claims · $21K
Berwick isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Mary Parish.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Berwick
Disasters that paid out in Berwick itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Berwick), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Francine573 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$345K to the Town of Berwick for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $73K
- 2021Hurricane Ida774 households applied for aid$424K aid approved$236K to the Town of Berwick for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Barry$96K to the Town of Berwick for repairs
- 2019Flooding$3K to the Town of Berwick for repairs
- 2015Flooding$8K to the Town of Berwick for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Isaac90 households applied for aid$115K aid approved$28K to the Town of Berwick for repairs
Show all 14
- 2011Flooding$41K to the Town of Berwick for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Ike56 households applied for aid$80K aid approved$68K to the Town of Berwick for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Gustav549 households applied for aid$674K aid approved$297K to the Town of Berwick for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $26K
- 2005Hurricane Rita510 households applied for aid$344K aid approved$46K to the Town of Berwick for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina250 households applied for aid$244K aid approved$59K to the Town of Berwick for repairs
- 2002Hurricane Lili$12K to the Town of Berwick for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $21K
- 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$5K to the Town of Berwick for repairs
- 2001Tropical Storm Allison$6K to the Town of Berwick for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $232
St. Mary Parish has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Berwick after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Berwick archive →Berwick and its neighbors
Berwick has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berwick | Dmore damage than 95% | hurricanes | 82 |
| Bayou Vista | D−more damage than 95% | hurricanes | — |
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 Berwick 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.
- 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 Berwick
Is Berwick at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berwick has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #99 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (83%) and river and rain flooding (12%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Berwick flood?
Flood insurance has paid 82 claims in Berwick since 1978, $1.1M in all, or 41.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (9).
Is Berwick 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 St. Mary Parish, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 12.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Berwick?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Berwick’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 Berwick?
By FEMA money that reached Berwick, Hurricane Francine (2024): 573 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved, and $345K to the Town of Berwick for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 9 paid, $203K.
Is Berwick at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Berwick’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Berwick.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Berwick’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.