Blanchard’s building-damage rate from ice storms is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blanchard gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #26 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%), then ice storms (16%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Blanchard 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
Ice storms
Hail
Tornadoes
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 Blanchard’s grade
River and rain flooding is 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Blanchard, and Blanchard’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 16%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B #26 of 162 in Louisiana; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Blanchard’s residents live in 4 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, Blanchard has less expected damage per building than 84% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across Blanchard: $538K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Blanchard flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Blanchard. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Blanchard isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Caddo Parish.The storms Blanchard remembers
None of the 26 disasters declared for Caddo Parish shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Blanchard itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Caddo Parish has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms.
Get ready for what Blanchard 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.
- Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
- Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
- Keep sand or salt by the door.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Blanchard
Is Blanchard at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blanchard has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #26 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%) and ice storms (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Blanchard 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 Caddo Parish, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Blanchard?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Blanchard’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Blanchard at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Blanchard’s rate for it is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Blanchard.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Blanchard’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.