Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church · Photo: Z28scrambler · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in South Vacherie than almost anywhere in the U.S., led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Vacherie gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #160 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (46%), then coastal flooding (38%). Flood insurance has paid 39 claims here since 1985.
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 South Vacherie’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What South Vacherie faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
Coastal flooding
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 South Vacherie’s grade
Hurricanes are 46% of the building damage FEMA expects in South Vacherie, and South Vacherie’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 38%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #160 of 162 in Louisiana; among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of South Vacherie’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Louisiana town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, South Vacherie has more expected damage per building than 99% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.9M a year in losses across South Vacherie: $3.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does South Vacherie flood? Sometimes: 39 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in South Vacherie, from FEMA’s records: 28.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Francine11 claims · $385K
- Tropical Storm Allison5 claims · $22K
- Hurricane Isaac4 claims · $53K
South Vacherie 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. James Parish.The storms South Vacherie remembers
None of the 32 disasters declared for St. James Parish shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching South Vacherie itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 202411 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Francine, declared for St. James Parish
- 19915 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, declared for St. James Parish
- 20015 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Allison, declared for St. James Parish
St. James Parish has had 32 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of South Vacherie after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the South Vacherie archive →Get ready for what South Vacherie 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 South Vacherie
Is South Vacherie at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Vacherie has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #160 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (46%) and coastal flooding (38%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does South Vacherie flood?
Flood insurance has paid 39 claims in South Vacherie since 1985, $633K in all, or 28.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Francine (11).
Is South Vacherie 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. James Parish, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 11.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in South Vacherie?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for South Vacherie’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 South Vacherie?
By flood claims, Hurricane Francine: 11 paid, $385K.
Is South Vacherie at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (46%), and South Vacherie’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in South Vacherie.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where South Vacherie’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.