Photo: Dieter Karner · CC BY 2.0FEMA puts Jeanerette’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jeanerette gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #153 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (56%), then river and rain flooding (39%). Flood insurance has paid 40 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 Jeanerette’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Jeanerette 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 Jeanerette’s grade
Hurricanes are 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Jeanerette, and Jeanerette’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. River and rain flooding adds 39%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #153 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Jeanerette’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, Jeanerette has more expected damage per building than 94% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.9M a year in losses across Jeanerette: $3.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Jeanerette flood? Sometimes: 40 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Jeanerette, from FEMA’s records: 16.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Gustav3 claims · $50K
- The Mid-summer severe storms2 claims · $19K
- Hurricane Ike1 claim · $1K
Jeanerette isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Iberia Parish.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Jeanerette
Disasters that paid out in Jeanerette itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Jeanerette), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Francine137 households applied for aid$571K aid approved
- 2021Hurricane Ida1,541 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$16K to the City of Jeanerette for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Hurricane Delta200 households applied for aid$643K aid approved$76K to the City of Jeanerette for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Barry$64K to the City of Jeanerette for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $2K
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding301 households applied for aid$138K aid approved$56K to the City of Jeanerette for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac119 households applied for aid$111K aid approved$56K to the City of Jeanerette for repairs
Show all 11
- 2008Hurricane Ike377 households applied for aid$670K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $1K
- 2008Hurricane Gustav2,000 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$177K to the City of Jeanerette for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $50K
- 2005Hurricane Rita2,738 households applied for aid$2.8M aid approved$57K to the City of Jeanerette for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina236 households applied for aid$492K aid approved$16K to the City of Jeanerette for repairs
- 2002Hurricane Lili$36K to the City of Jeanerette for repairs
Iberia Parish has had 31 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Jeanerette after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Jeanerette archive →Get ready for what Jeanerette 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 Jeanerette
Is Jeanerette at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jeanerette has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #153 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (56%) and river and rain flooding (39%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Jeanerette flood?
Flood insurance has paid 40 claims in Jeanerette since 1980, $1.5M in all, or 16.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Gustav (3).
Is Jeanerette 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 Iberia Parish, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 11.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Jeanerette?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Jeanerette’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 Jeanerette?
By FEMA money that reached Jeanerette, Hurricane Rita (2005): 2,738 households applied for aid, $2.8M approved, and $57K to the City of Jeanerette for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Gustav: 3 paid, $50K.
Is Jeanerette at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Jeanerette’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Jeanerette.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Jeanerette’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.