Storms, floods and disasters in Leonville
Leonville isn’t graded for hazard risk: FEMA’s tract figures aren’t matched to Leonville yet. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1979.
What Leonville faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
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.
Does Leonville flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Leonville, from FEMA’s records.
Leonville 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. Landry Parish.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Leonville
Disasters that paid out in Leonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Leonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Hurricane Delta9 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$16K to the Town of Leonville for repairs
- 2020Hurricane Laura4 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$17K aid approved
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$4K to the Town of Leonville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Gustav77 households applied for aid$57K aid approved$68K to the Town of Leonville for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$23K aid approved
Show all 9
- 2005Hurricane Rita48 households applied for aid$27K aid approved$55K to the Town of Leonville for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2002Hurricane Lili$9K to the Town of Leonville for repairs
St. Landry Parish has had 35 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Leonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Leonville archive →Get ready for what Leonville faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Leonville
Does Leonville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Leonville since 1979, $21K in all. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Leonville 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. Landry Parish, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 6.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Leonville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Leonville’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 Leonville?
By FEMA money that reached Leonville, Hurricane Gustav (2008): 77 households applied for aid, $57K approved, and $68K to the Town of Leonville for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Leonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Leonville’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.