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DHazard risk
Natural hazards in Youngsville · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Youngsville faces more hazard damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Youngsville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #84 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (60%), then river and rain flooding (37%). Flood insurance has paid 212 claims here since 1978.

Hurricanes 60%River and rain flooding 37%Tornadoes 1%

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

more than 93%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#84 of 162 in Louisiana
Hazard risk
D#84 of 162
in Louisiana · higher than 93% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
60% of expected building damage
Flood claims
212
paid since 1978 · $13.2M
Flooded more than once
19
properties · 3 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
10% off
Community discount (class 8)

What stands out about Youngsville’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

212 paid flood claims since 1978$13.2M in all; 19 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 89% of U.S. towns.10% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Youngsville residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8).Moved out of harm’s way15 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared; 14 homes raised above flood level with FEMA grants.Remembers 2016150 flood claims were paid for 2016 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Youngsville faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

60%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

River and rain flooding

37%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Hail Ice storms Earthquakes Lightning top 2% Coastal flooding Strong wind Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 13% of Youngsville’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Youngsville’s grade

Hurricanes are 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Youngsville, and Youngsville’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 37% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Youngsville sits
Youngsville
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D #84 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Youngsville’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes60%River and rain flooding37%Everything else3%

The typical Louisiana town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Youngsville has more expected damage per building than 52% of Louisiana towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.8M a year in losses across Youngsville: $7.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Youngsville covers 5 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Youngsville flood? Yes: 212 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Youngsville, from FEMA’s records: 32.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 1 claim1980: 1 claim1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 1 claim1989: 1 claim1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 2 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 1 claim2000: 0 claims2001: 33 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 1 claim2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 1 claim2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 1 claim2015: 0 claims2016: 150 claims2017: 3 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 3 claims2020: 5 claims2021: 3 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 3 claims2026: 0 claims200120162020
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The Mid-summer severe storms148 claims · $11.9M
  • Tropical Storm Allison31 claims · $909K
  • Hurricane Laura5 claims · $25K
212
paid claims since 1978
$13.2M
paid to owners
19
homes flooded more than once
$62K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (3)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount10% off flood insurance

Youngsville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Lafayette Parish.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
15flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
14homes raised above flood level
Disasters

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Youngsville

Disasters that paid out in Youngsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Youngsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2021Hurricane Ida11 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
  2. 2021Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding16 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
  3. 2020Hurricane Delta302 households applied for aid$405K aid approved$338K to the City of Youngsville for repairs
  4. 2020Hurricane Laura33 households applied for aid$64K aid approved$116K to the City of Youngsville for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $25K
  5. 2019Hurricane Barry$75K to the City of Youngsville for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $37K
  6. 2016Severe Storms and Flooding1,723 households applied for aid$9.8M aid approved$674K to the City of Youngsville for repairs150 flood claims paid that year
Show all 13
  1. 2008Hurricane Ike14 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
  2. 2008Hurricane Gustav699 households applied for aid$305K aid approved$207K to the City of Youngsville for repairs
  3. 2005Hurricane Rita1,055 households applied for aid$817K aid approved$105K to the City of Youngsville for repairs
  4. 2005Hurricane Katrina75 households applied for aid$106K aid approved
  5. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
  6. 2002Hurricane Lili$230K to the City of Youngsville for repairs
  7. 2001Tropical Storm Allison$35K to the City of Youngsville for repairs31 flood claims paid for it, $909K
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in YoungsvilleLafayette Parish only

Lafayette Parish has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.

Were you here?

Old photos of Youngsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Youngsville archive →
Next door

Youngsville and its neighbors

Youngsville is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Broussard: hazard risk DBroussardYoungsville
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
BroussardDmore damage than 92%hurricanes151
YoungsvilleDmore damage than 93%hurricanes212

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Youngsville faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
  • Youngsville residents get 10% off flood insurance.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Youngsville

Is Youngsville at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Youngsville has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #84 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (60%) and river and rain flooding (37%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Youngsville flood?

Flood insurance has paid 212 claims in Youngsville since 1978, $13.2M in all, or 32.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 19 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-summer severe storms (148).

Is Youngsville 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 Lafayette Parish, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 19.0% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Youngsville?

Youngsville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Youngsville?

By FEMA money that reached Youngsville, Severe Storms and Flooding (2016): 1,723 households applied for aid, $9.8M approved, and $674K to the City of Youngsville for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-summer severe storms: 148 paid, $11.9M.

Is Youngsville at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Youngsville’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Youngsville.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Youngsville’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.