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D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Laplace · FEMA

FEMA puts Laplace’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Laplace gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #142 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (67%), then river and rain flooding (26%). Flood insurance has paid 5,244 claims here since 1978.

Hurricanes 67%River and rain flooding 26%Coastal flooding 4%

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

more than 98%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#142 of 162 in Louisiana
Hazard risk
D−#142 of 162
in Louisiana · higher than 98% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
67% of expected building damage
Flood claims
5,244
paid since 1978 · $443M
Disasters paid out here
5
of 34 declared for St. John the Baptist Parish

What stands out about Laplace’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

5,244 paid flood claims since 1978$443M in all. More per home than 99% of U.S. towns.Coastal flooding: the top 2% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for coastal flooding here ranks in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts; it is 3.9% of the damage it expects.Made safer with FEMA grants40 homes raised above flood level; 24 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared; 1 storm safe room built with FEMA grants.Remembers 20212,407 flood claims were paid for 2021 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Laplace faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

67%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

River and rain flooding

26%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Coastal flooding top 2% Tornadoes Hail Earthquakes Strong wind Ice storms Lightning Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Laplace’s grade

Hurricanes are 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Laplace, and Laplace’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Laplace sits
Laplace
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #142 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Laplace’s residents live in 7 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes67%River and rain flooding26%Coastal flooding4%Everything else4%

The typical Louisiana town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Laplace has more expected damage per building than 88% of Louisiana towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $32.2M a year in losses across Laplace: $26.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Ida in 2021, FEMA took 1,916 aid registrations from Laplace addresses (the town has 11,689 homes) and flood insurance paid 2,386 claims for $260M.
A firm figure. It combines 7 census tracts by where Laplace’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Laplace flood? Yes: 5,244 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Laplace, from FEMA’s records: 448.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 2 claims1979: 0 claims1980: 1 claim1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 1 claim1984: 0 claims1985: 3 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 6 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 1 claim1991: 15 claims1992: 4 claims1993: 1 claim1994: 4 claims1995: 54 claims1996: 2 claims1997: 2 claims1998: 22 claims1999: 2 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 32 claims2002: 30 claims2003: 3 claims2004: 7 claims2005: 163 claims2006: 1 claim2007: 5 claims2008: 43 claims2009: 16 claims2010: 2 claims2011: 3 claims2012: 2,270 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 4 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 1 claim2017: 11 claims2018: 6 claims2019: 3 claims2020: 19 claims2021: 2,407 claims2022: 4 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 89 claims2025: 2 claims2026: 2 claims200520122021
19782026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Ida2,386 claims · $260M
  • Hurricane Isaac2,265 claims · $170M
  • Hurricane Katrina146 claims · $3.0M
5,244
paid claims since 1978
$443M
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$84K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Laplace isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: St. John the Baptist Parish.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
40homes raised above flood level
24flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
1storm safe room built
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Laplace

Disasters that paid out in Laplace itself (aid to households or repair grants to Laplace), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Hurricane Francine533 households applied for aid$730K aid approved78 flood claims paid for it, $3.6M
  2. 2021Hurricane Ida1,916 households applied for aid$5.4M aid approved2,386 flood claims paid for it, $260M
  3. 2012Hurricane Isaac345 households applied for aid$903K aid approved2,265 flood claims paid for it, $170M
  4. 2008Hurricane Gustav93 households applied for aid$47K aid approved24 flood claims paid for it, $228K
  5. 2005Hurricane Katrina49 households applied for aid$133K aid approved146 flood claims paid for it, $3.0M
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in LaplaceSt. John the Baptist Parish only

St. John the Baptist Parish has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.

Were you here?

Old photos of Laplace after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Laplace archive →
Next door

Laplace and its neighbors

Laplace is 3rd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Reserve: hazard risk D−Edgard: hazard risk D−Montz: hazard risk D−ReserveEdgardMontzLaplace
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
ReserveD−more damage than 96%hurricanes918
EdgardD−more damage than 96%hurricanes—
LaplaceD−more damage than 98%hurricanes5,244
MontzD−more damage than 98%hurricanes—

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Laplace faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Laplace

Is Laplace at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Laplace has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #142 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (67%) and river and rain flooding (26%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Laplace flood?

Flood insurance has paid 5,244 claims in Laplace since 1978, $443M in all, or 448.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (2,386).

Is Laplace 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 St. John the Baptist Parish, 80% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 34.2% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Laplace?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Laplace’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 Laplace?

By FEMA money that reached Laplace, Hurricane Ida (2021): 1,916 households applied for aid, $5.4M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 2,386 paid, $260M.

Is Laplace at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Laplace’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Laplace.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Laplace’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.