Photo: David Wilson · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Morgan City faces more hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morgan City gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #94 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (86%). Flood insurance has paid 366 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 Morgan City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Morgan City 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 Morgan City’s grade
Hurricanes are 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Morgan City, and Morgan City’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.
D #94 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Morgan City’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, Morgan City has more expected damage per building than 58% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.3M a year in losses across Morgan City: $10.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Morgan City flood? Yes: 366 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Morgan City, from FEMA’s records: 70.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Francine67 claims · $4.3M
- Hurricane Andrew21 claims · $144K
- The Mid-spring storms17 claims · $431K
Morgan City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: St. Mary Parish.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Morgan City
Disasters that paid out in Morgan City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Morgan City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Francine2,991 households applied for aid$5.7M aid approved$6.0M to the City of Morgan City for repairs67 flood claims paid for it, $4.3M
- 2021Hurricane Ida3,640 households applied for aid$3.2M aid approved$346K to the City of Morgan City for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Barry$697K to the City of Morgan City for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $39K
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2015Flooding$16K to the City of Morgan City for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac520 households applied for aid$448K aid approved$314K to the City of Morgan City for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 15
- 2011Flooding$287K to the City of Morgan City for repairs
- 2011Flooding$84K to the City of Morgan City for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Ike366 households applied for aid$456K aid approved$473K to the City of Morgan City for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Gustav3,023 households applied for aid$2.7M aid approved$1.7M to the City of Morgan City for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Rita2,331 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$153K to the City of Morgan City for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina1,670 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$187K to the City of Morgan City for repairs
- 2002Hurricane Lili$258K to the City of Morgan City for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $58K
- 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$19K to the City of Morgan City for repairs
- 2001Tropical Storm Allison$18K to the City of Morgan City for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $56K
St. Mary Parish has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Morgan City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Morgan City archive →Morgan City and its neighbors
Morgan City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan City | Dmore damage than 94% | hurricanes | 366 |
| Siracusaville | — | 515 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 Morgan City 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.
- Morgan City residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Morgan City
Is Morgan City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morgan City has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #94 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (86%) and river and rain flooding (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Morgan City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 366 claims in Morgan City since 1978, $6.3M in all, or 70.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 30 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Francine (67).
Is Morgan City 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. Mary Parish, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 12.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Morgan City?
Morgan City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% 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 Morgan City?
By FEMA money that reached Morgan City, Hurricane Francine (2024): 2,991 households applied for aid, $5.7M approved, and $6.0M to the City of Morgan City for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Francine: 67 paid, $4.3M.
Is Morgan City at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Morgan City’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Morgan City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Morgan City’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.