Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Mandeville faces more hazard damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mandeville gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #138 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (72%), then river and rain flooding (25%). Flood insurance has paid 1,439 claims here since 1978.
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 Mandeville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Mandeville 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 Mandeville’s grade
Hurricanes are 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mandeville, and Mandeville’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #138 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mandeville’s residents live in 6 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, Mandeville has more expected damage per building than 85% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $15.8M a year in losses across Mandeville: $14.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mandeville flood? Yes: 1,439 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mandeville, from FEMA’s records: 239.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Katrina386 claims · $27.9M
- Hurricane Isaac235 claims · $8.5M
- Hurricane Ida183 claims · $6.1M
Mandeville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: St. Tammany Parish.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mandeville
Disasters that paid out in Mandeville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Mandeville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Tropical Storm Arthur55 households applied for aid$7K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2024Hurricane Francine$222K to the City of Mandeville for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Hurricane Ida12,255 households applied for aid$8.4M aid approved$11.8M to the City of Mandeville for repairs183 flood claims paid for it, $6.1M
- 2020Hurricane Zeta$87K to the City of Mandeville for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding38 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2012Hurricane Isaac1,680 households applied for aid$667K aid approved$2.0M to the City of Mandeville for repairs235 flood claims paid for it, $8.5M
Show all 15
- 2008Hurricane Ike53 households applied for aid$17K aid approved
- 2008Hurricane Gustav3,179 households applied for aid$271K aid approved$691K to the City of Mandeville for repairs33 flood claims paid for it, $617K
- 2005Hurricane Rita601 households applied for aid$187K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Katrina19,473 households applied for aid$48.0M aid approved$6.2M to the City of Mandeville for repairs386 flood claims paid for it, $27.9M
- 2005Hurricane Katrina1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved386 flood claims paid for it, $27.9M
- 2004Hurricane Ivan$86K to the City of Mandeville for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Hurricane Lili$122K to the City of Mandeville for repairs
- 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$49K to the City of Mandeville for repairs71 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
- 2001Tropical Storm Allison$10K to the City of Mandeville for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
St. Tammany Parish has had 39 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Mandeville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mandeville archive →Mandeville and its neighbors
Mandeville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandeville | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 1,439 |
| Lewisburg | — | 484 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Mandeville 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.
- Mandeville residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Mandeville
Is Mandeville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mandeville has higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #138 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (72%) and river and rain flooding (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mandeville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,439 claims in Mandeville since 1978, $52.7M in all, or 239.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 226 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Katrina (386).
Is Mandeville 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. Tammany Parish, 40.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Mandeville?
Mandeville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Mandeville?
By FEMA money that reached Mandeville, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 19,473 households applied for aid, $48.0M approved, and $6.2M to the City of Mandeville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Katrina: 386 paid, $27.9M.
Is Mandeville at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Mandeville’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mandeville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mandeville’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.