Photo: Falkonry at English Wikipedia · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Carencro than in 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carencro gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #83 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (61%), then river and rain flooding (36%). Flood insurance has paid 253 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 Carencro’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Carencro 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 Carencro’s grade
Hurricanes are 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Carencro, and Carencro’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 36% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
D #83 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Carencro’s residents live in 6 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, Carencro has more expected damage per building than 51% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.0M a year in losses across Carencro: $4.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Carencro flood? Yes: 253 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Carencro, from FEMA’s records: 50.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-summer severe storms10 claims · $92K
- The 2021 Mid-Spring Severe Storms2 claims · $58K
- Hurricane Gustav1 claim · $5K
Carencro is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Lafayette Parish.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Carencro
Disasters that paid out in Carencro itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Carencro), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding54 households applied for aid$55K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Hurricane Delta585 households applied for aid$746K aid approved$425K to the City of Carencro for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
- 2020Hurricane Laura2 households applied for aid$449 aid approved$70K to the City of Carencro for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $184K
- 2019Hurricane Barry$52K to the City of Carencro for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding513 households applied for aid$838K aid approved$32K to the City of Carencro for repairs23 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$28K to the City of Carencro for repairs69 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2008Hurricane Gustav1,171 households applied for aid$387K aid approved$265K to the City of Carencro for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $5K
- 2005Hurricane Rita1,162 households applied for aid$617K aid approved$49K to the City of Carencro for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina51 households applied for aid$36K aid approved$3K to the City of Carencro for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding197 households applied for aid$353K aid approved23 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Hurricane Lili$138K to the City of Carencro for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $889
- 2001Tropical Storm Allison$2K to the City of Carencro for repairs
Lafayette Parish has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Carencro after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Carencro archive →Carencro and its neighbors
Carencro 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carencro | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 253 |
| Lafayette | Dmore damage than 94% | hurricanes | 1,913 |
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 Carencro 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.
- Carencro residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Carencro
Is Carencro at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carencro has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #83 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (61%) and river and rain flooding (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Carencro flood?
Flood insurance has paid 253 claims in Carencro since 1979, $5.4M in all, or 50.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 37 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-summer severe storms (10).
Is Carencro 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 Lafayette Parish, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 19.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Carencro?
Carencro is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Carencro?
By FEMA money that reached Carencro, Hurricane Delta (2020): 585 households applied for aid, $746K approved, and $425K to the City of Carencro for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-summer severe storms: 10 paid, $92K.
Is Carencro at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Carencro’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Carencro.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Carencro’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.