Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Violet than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Violet gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #98 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (85%), then river and rain flooding (12%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Violet’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Violet 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 Violet’s grade
Hurricanes are 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Violet, and Violet’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 12% (lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
D #98 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Violet’s residents live in 2 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, Violet has more expected damage per building than 60% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.6M a year in losses across Violet: $3.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Violet flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Violet. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Violet 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. Bernard Parish.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Violet
Disasters that paid out in Violet itself (aid to households or repair grants to Violet), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Hurricane Ida2,779 households applied for aid$5.3M aid approved
- 2020Hurricane Zeta562 households applied for aid$669K aid approved
- 2020Hurricane Laura1 households applied for aid$500 aid approved
- 2012Hurricane Isaac1,524 households applied for aid$687K aid approved
- 2008Hurricane Gustav1,329 households applied for aid$96K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Katrina6,706 households applied for aid$68.7M aid approved
Show all 8
- 2005Hurricane Katrina1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Ivan373 households applied for aid$213K aid approved
St. Bernard Parish has had 35 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Violet after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Violet archive →Violet and its neighbors
Violet is 2nd of the 4 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 | 0 |
| Meraux | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 2,823 |
| New Orleans | D−more damage than 97% | hurricanes | 91,224 |
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 Violet 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 Violet
Is Violet at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Violet has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #98 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (85%) and river and rain flooding (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Violet 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. Bernard Parish, 56.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Violet?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Violet’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 Violet?
By FEMA money that reached Violet, Hurricane Katrina (2005): 6,706 households applied for aid, $68.7M approved.
Is Violet at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Violet’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Violet.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Violet’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.