Santa Maria Plantation House · Photo: David J. Kaminsky · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, St. George faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. George gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #39 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (44%), then river and rain flooding (44%). Flood insurance has paid 2,140 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 St. George’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What St. George 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
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.
What’s behind St. George’s grade
Hurricanes are 44% of the building damage FEMA expects in St. George, and St. George’s rate of hurricanes damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 44% (lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #39 of 162 in Louisiana; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
St. George’s residents live in 23 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, St. George has less expected damage per building than 76% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $46.8M a year in losses across St. George: $32.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does St. George flood? Yes: 2,140 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in St. George, from FEMA’s records.
- The Mid-summer severe storms1,046 claims · $100M
- The 2021 Mid-Spring Severe Storms492 claims · $55.2M
- Tropical Storm Allison46 claims · $636K
St. George is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: East Baton Rouge Parish.The storms St. George remembers
None of the 34 disasters declared for East Baton Rouge Parish shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching St. George itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20161,049 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for East Baton Rouge Parish
- 2021502 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Nicholas, declared for East Baton Rouge Parish
- 1983160 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of St. George after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the St. George archive →St. George and its neighbors
St. George has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. George | B−less damage than 51% | hurricanes | 2,140 |
| Baton Rouge | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 5,396 |
| Gardere | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 89 |
| Prairieville | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 259 |
| St. Gabriel | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 38 |
| Central | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 1,869 |
| Denham Springs | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 2,674 |
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 St. George 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.
- 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.
- St. George 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 St. George
Is St. George at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. George has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #39 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (44%) and river and rain flooding (44%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does St. George flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2,140 claims in St. George since 1978, $166M in all. The most claims came from Mid-summer severe storms (1,046).
Is St. George 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 East Baton Rouge Parish, 57% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 24.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in St. George?
St. George 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 St. George?
By flood claims, Mid-summer severe storms: 1,046 paid, $100M.
Is St. George at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (44%), and St. George’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in St. George.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where St. George’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.