Photo: Butch DuCote · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Chackbay than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chackbay gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #159 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (66%), then river and rain flooding (19%). Flood insurance has paid 65 claims here since 1980.
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 Chackbay’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Chackbay 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
Coastal 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 Chackbay’s grade
Hurricanes are 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chackbay, and Chackbay’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 13%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #159 of 162 in Louisiana; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chackbay’s residents live in 2 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, Chackbay has more expected damage per building than 98% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.7M a year in losses across Chackbay: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chackbay flood? Sometimes: 65 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chackbay, from FEMA’s records: 28.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Allison19 claims · $136K
- Hurricane Francine7 claims · $359K
- Hurricane Juan1 claim · $8K
Chackbay isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lafourche Parish.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Chackbay
Disasters that paid out in Chackbay itself (aid to households or repair grants to Chackbay), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Hurricane Ida3 households applied for aid$500 aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $4K
Lafourche Parish has had 40 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Chackbay after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chackbay archive →Get ready for what Chackbay 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Chackbay
Is Chackbay at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chackbay has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #159 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (66%) and river and rain flooding (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Chackbay flood?
Flood insurance has paid 65 claims in Chackbay since 1980, $676K in all, or 28.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Allison (19).
Is Chackbay 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 Lafourche Parish, 23.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Chackbay?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chackbay’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 Chackbay?
By FEMA money that reached Chackbay, Hurricane Ida (2021): 3 households applied for aid, $500 approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Allison: 19 paid, $136K.
Is Chackbay at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Chackbay’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chackbay.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chackbay’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.