Photo: Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in St. Martinville than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Martinville gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #104 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (56%), then river and rain flooding (40%). Flood insurance has paid 45 claims here since 1979.
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. Martinville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What St. Martinville 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 St. Martinville’s grade
Hurricanes are 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in St. Martinville, and St. Martinville’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 40% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
D− #104 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
St. Martinville’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, St. Martinville has more expected damage per building than 64% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.2M a year in losses across St. Martinville: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does St. Martinville flood? Sometimes: 45 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in St. Martinville, from FEMA’s records: 13.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-summer severe storms24 claims · $1.1M
- Hurricane Rita2 claims · $7K
- Hurricane Andrew2 claims · $4K
St. Martinville 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. Martin Parish.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to St. Martinville
Disasters that paid out in St. Martinville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of St. Martinville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Francine$24K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs
- 2021Hurricane Ida2,283 households applied for aid$838K aid approved$27K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs
- 2021Severe Winter Storms$6K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs
- 2020Hurricane Delta490 households applied for aid$900K aid approved$209K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs
- 2020Hurricane Laura$70K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs
- 2019Hurricane Barry$142K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs
Show all 15
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding1,290 households applied for aid$3.1M aid approved$202K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs24 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac86 households applied for aid$82K aid approved$40K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Ike64 households applied for aid$92K aid approved$53K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs
- 2008Hurricane Gustav1,863 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved$527K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $12K
- 2007Severe Storms and Tornadoes38 households applied for aid$118K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Rita1,962 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$81K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $7K
- 2005Hurricane Katrina210 households applied for aid$231K aid approved$16K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding58 households applied for aid$61K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Hurricane Lili$273K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs
St. Martin Parish has had 40 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of St. Martinville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the St. Martinville archive →Get ready for what St. Martinville 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 St. Martinville
Is St. Martinville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Martinville has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #104 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (56%) and river and rain flooding (40%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does St. Martinville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 45 claims in St. Martinville since 1979, $1.3M in all, or 13.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-summer severe storms (24).
Is St. Martinville 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. Martin Parish, 25% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 9.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in St. Martinville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for St. Martinville’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 St. Martinville?
By FEMA money that reached St. Martinville, Severe Storms and Flooding (2016): 1,290 households applied for aid, $3.1M approved, and $202K to the City of St. Martinville for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-summer severe storms: 24 paid, $1.1M.
Is St. Martinville at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and St. Martinville’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in St. Martinville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where St. Martinville’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.