Photo: George Bannister · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in New Orleans than in 97% of U.S. towns; 91,224 flood claims have been paid there
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Orleans gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #133 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (81%), then river and rain flooding (17%). Flood insurance has paid 91,224 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 New Orleans’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What New Orleans 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 New Orleans’ grade
Hurricanes are 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Orleans, and New Orleans’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 17% (higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts).
D− #133 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Orleans’ residents live in 183 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, New Orleans has more expected damage per building than 82% of Louisiana towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, New Orleans has higher expected damage per building than 97% (#388 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $304M, is the 20th largest of those 400.
Does New Orleans flood? Yes: 91,224 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Orleans, from FEMA’s records: 466.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Katrina52,774 claims · $5,931M
- Tropical Storm Isidore1,759 claims · $14.7M
- Hurricane Ida782 claims · $26.6M
New Orleans isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Orleans Parish.21 federal disasters brought FEMA money to New Orleans
Disasters that paid out in New Orleans itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of New Orleans), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Francine179 households applied for aid$227K aid approved198 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Hurricane Ida161,558 households applied for aid$227M aid approved$48.6M to the City of New Orleans for repairs782 flood claims paid for it, $26.6M
- 2020Hurricane Zeta6,938 households applied for aid$4.5M aid approved$3.7M to the City of New Orleans for repairs
- 2020Hurricane Sally$446K to the City of New Orleans for repairs
- 2020Hurricane Laura11 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$414K to the City of New Orleans for repairs
- 2020Tropical Storm Cristobal$29K to the City of New Orleans for repairs
Show all 21
- 2019Hurricane Barry$2.6M to the City of New Orleans for repairs707 flood claims paid for it, $35.2M
- 2017Tropical Storm Nate$869K to the City of New Orleans for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds2,839 households applied for aid$2.8M aid approved
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$6K aid approved15 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac52,178 households applied for aid$15.7M aid approved$16.2M to the City of New Orleans for repairs514 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Ike678 households applied for aid$438K aid approved
- 2008Hurricane Gustav59,620 households applied for aid$7.5M aid approved$19.7M to the City of New Orleans for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Tornadoes883 households applied for aid$444K aid approved73 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Rita1,284 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$7K to the City of New Orleans for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina375,198 households applied for aid$2.93B aid approved$2.46B to the City of New Orleans for repairs52,774 flood claims paid for it, $5.93B
- 2005Hurricane Katrina19 households applied for aid$29K aid approved52,774 flood claims paid for it, $5.93B
- 2004Hurricane Ivan4,813 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$1.1M to the City of New Orleans for repairs67 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Hurricane Lili$747K to the City of New Orleans for repairs
- 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$344K to the City of New Orleans for repairs1,759 flood claims paid for it, $14.7M
- 2001Tropical Storm Allison$142K to the City of New Orleans for repairs673 flood claims paid for it, $3.0M
Orleans Parish has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms.
Old photos of New Orleans after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Orleans archive →New Orleans and its neighbors
New Orleans is 9th of the 11 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poydras | Dmore damage than 94% | hurricanes | 826 |
| Violet | Dmore damage than 95% | hurricanes | — |
| Jefferson | D−more damage than 96% | hurricanes | 1,536 |
| Meraux | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 2,823 |
| Marrero | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 6,057 |
| Arabi | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 2,964 |
| Chalmette | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 12,020 |
| Gretna | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 3,092 |
| New Orleans | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 91,224 |
| Terrytown | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 2,196 |
| Metairie | D−more damage than 98% | hurricanes | 10,726 |
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 New Orleans 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 New Orleans
Is New Orleans at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Orleans has higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #133 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (81%) and river and rain flooding (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Orleans flood?
Flood insurance has paid 91,224 claims in New Orleans since 1978, $6.39B in all, or 466.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Katrina (52,774).
Is New Orleans 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 Orleans Parish, 51.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in New Orleans?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Orleans’ 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 New Orleans?
By FEMA money that reached New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 375,198 households applied for aid, $2.93B approved, and $2.46B to the City of New Orleans for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Katrina: 52,774 paid, $5.93B.
Is New Orleans at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and New Orleans’ rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Orleans.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Orleans’ 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.