Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Breaux Bridge faces more hazard damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Breaux Bridge gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #71 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (72%), then river and rain flooding (23%). Flood insurance has paid 105 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 Breaux Bridge’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Breaux Bridge 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 Breaux Bridge’s grade
Hurricanes are 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Breaux Bridge, and Breaux Bridge’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 23% (lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts).
D #71 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Breaux Bridge’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, Breaux Bridge has less expected damage per building than 57% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.9M a year in losses across Breaux Bridge: $4.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Breaux Bridge flood? Yes: 105 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Breaux Bridge, from FEMA’s records: 32.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-summer severe storms15 claims · $822K
- The 2026-06-Arthur-TS6 claims · $160K
- Hurricane Rita3 claims · $33K
Breaux Bridge 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. Martin Parish.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Breaux Bridge
Disasters that paid out in Breaux Bridge itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Breaux Bridge), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Hurricane Ida3,075 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Hurricane Delta939 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$163K to the City of Breaux Bridge for repairs
- 2020Hurricane Laura$13K to the City of Breaux Bridge for repairs
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding1,287 households applied for aid$2.1M aid approved$63K to the City of Breaux Bridge for repairs19 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac151 households applied for aid$146K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Ike84 households applied for aid$191K aid approved
Show all 12
- 2008Hurricane Gustav2,414 households applied for aid$2.7M aid approved$138K to the City of Breaux Bridge for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $33K
- 2007Severe Storms and Tornadoes50 households applied for aid$87K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Rita2,086 households applied for aid$2.3M aid approved$36K to the City of Breaux Bridge for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $33K
- 2005Hurricane Katrina246 households applied for aid$283K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding529 households applied for aid$767K aid approved10 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Hurricane Lili$31K to the City of Breaux Bridge for repairs
St. Martin Parish has had 40 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Breaux Bridge after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Breaux Bridge archive →Get ready for what Breaux Bridge 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 Breaux Bridge
Is Breaux Bridge at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Breaux Bridge has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #71 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (72%) and river and rain flooding (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Breaux Bridge flood?
Flood insurance has paid 105 claims in Breaux Bridge since 1979, $3.9M in all, or 32.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 21 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-summer severe storms (15).
Is Breaux Bridge 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. Martin Parish, 25% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 9.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Breaux Bridge?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Breaux Bridge’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 Breaux Bridge?
By FEMA money that reached Breaux Bridge, Hurricane Gustav (2008): 2,414 households applied for aid, $2.7M approved, and $138K to the City of Breaux Bridge for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-summer severe storms: 15 paid, $822K.
Is Breaux Bridge at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Breaux Bridge’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Breaux Bridge.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Breaux Bridge’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.