Ardoyne Plantation House · Photo: Z28scrambler · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Gray than in 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gray gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #121 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (87%). Flood insurance has paid 74 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 Gray’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Gray 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 Gray’s grade
Hurricanes are 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gray, and Gray’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 10% (lower than 89% of U.S. census tracts).
D− #121 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Gray’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, Gray has more expected damage per building than 75% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.6M a year in losses across Gray: $4.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gray flood? Sometimes: 74 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gray, from FEMA’s records: 35.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Isidore5 claims · $43K
- The 2026-06-Arthur-TS4 claims · $199K
- Tropical Storm Allison3 claims · $13K
Gray isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Terrebonne Parish.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Gray
Disasters that paid out in Gray itself (aid to households or repair grants to Gray), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Tropical Storm Arthur385 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2024Hurricane Francine1,106 households applied for aid$2.3M aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Hurricane Ida3,405 households applied for aid$10.5M aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $25K
- 2020Hurricane Zeta85 households applied for aid$169K aid approved
- 2012Hurricane Isaac385 households applied for aid$419K aid approved
- 2008Hurricane Ike217 households applied for aid$368K aid approved
Show all 10
- 2008Hurricane Gustav1,882 households applied for aid$1.9M aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Rita576 households applied for aid$391K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Katrina1,564 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Ivan24 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
Terrebonne Parish has had 38 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Gray after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gray archive →Gray and its neighbors
Gray is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schriever | D−more damage than 96% | hurricanes | 12 |
| Gray | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 74 |
| Bayou Blue | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 16 |
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 Gray 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 Gray
Is Gray at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gray has higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #121 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (87%) and river and rain flooding (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Gray flood?
Flood insurance has paid 74 claims in Gray since 1980, $1.6M in all, or 35.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Isidore (5).
Is Gray 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 Terrebonne Parish, 32.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Gray?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Gray’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 Gray?
By FEMA money that reached Gray, Hurricane Ida (2021): 3,405 households applied for aid, $10.5M approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Isidore: 5 paid, $43K.
Is Gray at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Gray’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gray.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gray’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.