Photo: Mtortorich at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Donaldsonville than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Donaldsonville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #62 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (82%), then river and rain flooding (11%). Flood insurance has paid 41 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 Donaldsonville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Donaldsonville 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 Donaldsonville’s grade
Hurricanes are 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Donaldsonville, and Donaldsonville’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 11% (lower than 97% of U.S. census tracts).
D #62 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Donaldsonville’s residents live in 3 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, Donaldsonville has less expected damage per building than 62% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.2M a year in losses across Donaldsonville: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Donaldsonville flood? Sometimes: 41 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Donaldsonville, from FEMA’s records: 14.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-summer severe storms15 claims · $511K
- The Mid-spring storms2 claims · $28K
- The 2026-06-Arthur-TS1 claim · $27K
Donaldsonville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: the county.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Donaldsonville
Disasters that paid out in Donaldsonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Donaldsonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm$12K to the City of Donaldsonville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2024Hurricane Francine1,575 households applied for aid$3.5M aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $47K
- 2021Hurricane Ida3,290 households applied for aid$6.2M aid approved$969K to the City of Donaldsonville for repairs
- 2021Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding23 households applied for aid$56K aid approved
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding380 households applied for aid$375K aid approved
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding48 households applied for aid$42K aid approved
Show all 13
- 2012Hurricane Isaac591 households applied for aid$594K aid approved$7K to the City of Donaldsonville for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Gustav2,202 households applied for aid$3.2M aid approved$1.2M to the City of Donaldsonville for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita684 households applied for aid$706K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Katrina2,385 households applied for aid$2.9M aid approved$124K to the City of Donaldsonville for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $11K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan$13K to the City of Donaldsonville for repairs
- 2002Hurricane Lili$35K to the City of Donaldsonville for repairs
- 2001Tropical Storm Allison$5K to the City of Donaldsonville for repairs
Its 2 counties have had 45 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Donaldsonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Donaldsonville archive →Get ready for what Donaldsonville 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 Donaldsonville
Is Donaldsonville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Donaldsonville has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #62 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (82%) and river and rain flooding (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Donaldsonville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 41 claims in Donaldsonville since 1979, $987K in all, or 14.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-summer severe storms (15).
Is Donaldsonville 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 the county, 45% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 28.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Donaldsonville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Donaldsonville’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 Donaldsonville?
By FEMA money that reached Donaldsonville, Hurricane Ida (2021): 3,290 households applied for aid, $6.2M approved, and $969K to the City of Donaldsonville for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-summer severe storms: 15 paid, $511K.
Is Donaldsonville at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Donaldsonville’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Donaldsonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Donaldsonville’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.