Louisiana
You live where the Gulf of Mexico meets some of the lowest land in North America. You already know what a hurricane watch feels like, what rising water sounds like at 3 a.m., and why the levee system matters more than any politician wants to admit. That awareness is not anxiety. It is an accurate read on where you live.
Your risk profile
Most residents wait for a named storm before reviewing their plan. The decision window between tropical storm formation and landfall can be under 48 hours. The people who move calmly through that window made their key decisions weeks earlier. That's the gap.
FEMA estimates that more than 20% of flood claims come from outside mapped high-risk zones. Flood risk in Louisiana is not limited to the areas on the map.
Louisiana's combination of heat and humidity produces dangerous heat index values even when the air temperature reads below 95F. Most people have never learned to recognize the early signs of heat illness in themselves. That's the gap, and it's a simple one to close.
Louisiana tornadoes often form in rain-wrapped cells with limited visibility, sometimes giving less than 10 minutes between a warning and impact. Most people have never practiced getting to their shelter spot that fast. That's the gap.
When Hurricane Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon on August 29, 2021, as a Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds, residents who had evacuation plans and acted on them got out safely. 26 people in Louisiana did not. Over one million utility customers lost power, some for weeks, and total damage reached an estimated $75 billion. The people who came through it had made their decisions before the storm entered the Gulf.
Source: National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ida
As of 2023, only about 13% of Louisiana homeowners carried a flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program, despite the state leading the nation in flood insurance claims. Closing that gap is one of the simplest, highest-leverage steps a Louisiana homeowner can take. It does not require a drill or a kit, just a phone call.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program Policy Statistics
Monthly risk calendar
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | ||||||||||||
| Flood | ||||||||||||
| Extreme Heat | ||||||||||||
| Tornado |
Action items for this season
- Hurricane (Jun): Review your evacuation zone and route before the season opens.
- Flood (Jun): Tropical moisture increases flood risk even without a named storm.
- Extreme Heat (Jun): Heat index values begin exceeding 105F. Recognize early signs of heat illness.
- Tornado (Apr): Peak tornado months. Identify your interior, lowest-floor shelter location.
What makes Louisiana's hurricane risk different from other Gulf states?
Louisiana's coastline geometry funnels storm surge into populated areas, and much of south Louisiana sits at or below sea level.
The state's concave coastline and the Mississippi River delta create conditions that amplify storm surge beyond what wind speed alone would predict. New Orleans, with a metro population over 1.2 million, sits in a bowl protected by a $14.5 billion federal levee system completed after Hurricane Katrina. Coastal erosion has eliminated roughly 2,000 square miles of wetland buffer since 1932, according to USGS, removing natural storm surge protection that once shielded inland communities. This means each hurricane season carries structural risk that cannot be reduced by individual action alone, but your decisions about when to evacuate and how to protect your property still determine your outcome.
Source: USGS Louisiana Coastal Land Loss
When should you evacuate versus shelter in place during a hurricane?
If your parish issues a mandatory evacuation order, leave. That is not a suggestion. If you are in a storm surge zone and a hurricane is forecast to make landfall nearby, evacuate before the order.
Louisiana uses a phased, contraflow evacuation system on major interstates. Once contraflow activates, travel time to safe areas increases significantly due to volume. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) coordinates with parish officials to issue evacuation orders based on storm surge modeling, not just wind categories. A Category 1 hurricane hitting the right angle of coastline can produce worse surge than a Category 3 on a different track. Your evacuation decision should be based on your zone, not the storm category. Know your parish zone designation at getagameplan.org before the season starts.
Source: Louisiana GOHSEP Get a Game Plan
How do you protect your home from flood damage in Louisiana?
Elevate utilities above base flood elevation, maintain proper drainage around your property, and carry flood insurance regardless of your zone designation.
Standard homeowner's insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance through the NFIP requires a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins, so purchasing a policy during hurricane season leaves a gap. Louisiana's repetitive loss properties account for a disproportionate share of national flood claims. If your home has flooded before, the probability of it flooding again within a 10-year period is significantly higher than most residents estimate. Structural measures like elevating HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels above anticipated flood levels reduce damage costs. Keeping gutters and drainage channels clear prevents compound flooding during heavy rain events.
Source: FEMA Flood Insurance Manual
What should you do in the 48 hours before a hurricane reaches Louisiana?
Decide whether you are evacuating or sheltering by hour 48. By hour 24, that decision should be final and executed.
At 48 hours: fuel vehicles, withdraw cash, photograph and document property contents, fill prescriptions, and charge all devices. At 36 hours: install window protection, move outdoor items inside, and confirm your evacuation route and destination. At 24 hours: if evacuating, leave. Do not wait for traffic to build. If sheltering, fill bathtubs and containers with water, set refrigerator to coldest setting, and identify your interior safe room. After landfall: do not drive through standing water, avoid downed power lines, and do not use generators indoors. After Hurricane Laura (2020), carbon monoxide from improperly placed generators caused more deaths than the storm's direct wind and surge impact. That risk is entirely preventable: generators belong outside, at least 20 feet from any opening.
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center
Why does Louisiana flood so much?
Louisiana sits at the bottom of the Mississippi River drainage basin, receives heavy subtropical rainfall, and has large areas of land at or below sea level with sinking soil.
The Mississippi River drains 41% of the continental United States, and all of that water funnels through Louisiana. South Louisiana's land is largely river-deposited sediment that naturally compacts and subsides over time. Without periodic flooding to deposit new sediment (prevented by the levee system since the early 1900s), the land surface drops relative to sea level. Parts of New Orleans sit 6 to 10 feet below sea level. Add annual rainfall averaging 60 inches statewide (compared to the national average of roughly 30 inches), coastal land loss removing natural drainage and buffer areas, and sea level rise along the Gulf Coast, and you get a state where flooding is not an anomaly but a geographic constant. The drainage infrastructure was designed for rainfall patterns that no longer match current intensity, and the combination of subsidence, sea level rise, and increased precipitation means flood risk is growing, not stable.
Who do I call in Louisiana?
Emergency contacts
State emergency agency
Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP)
Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP)
225-925-7500Before, during, or after a declared disaster for state-level coordination and resource information.
“State your parish, the nature of the emergency, and what assistance you need.”
Expected response: Routing to appropriate parish or state resources; referral to local emergency management if needed.
FEMA Region VI
800-621-3362After a federal disaster declaration to register for individual assistance, housing aid, or SBA disaster loans.
“Provide your address, describe the damage, and have your Social Security number available for registration.”
Expected response: Disaster assistance registration and assignment of a FEMA case number. An inspector may be scheduled.
Poison Control Center
800-222-1222For any suspected poisoning, chemical exposure, or contaminated water ingestion during or after a disaster.
“Describe what was ingested or inhaled, the person's age and weight, and the time of exposure.”
Expected response: Immediate medical guidance from a toxicology specialist. They will advise whether to treat at home or go to an ER.
Entergy Louisiana Emergency Line
800-968-8243To report downed power lines, outages, or electrical hazards during and after storms.
“Provide your account number or address and describe the outage or hazard. Report any downed lines with exact location.”
Expected response: Outage logged and prioritized. Do not approach or touch downed lines; stay at least 35 feet away.
Louisiana 211
211For non-emergency social services, shelter locations, food distribution, and community resources before or after a disaster.
“Describe your situation and what resources you need (shelter, food, medical, transportation).”
Expected response: Referral to local organizations providing the services you need, including shelters, food banks, and financial assistance programs.
How does Louisiana compare?
Total NFIP flood insurance claims paid (1978-2023)
Source: FEMA NFIP Claims Statistics
Costliest hurricane damage in U.S. history (single state)
Percentage of state land area in FEMA floodplains
Source: FEMA Flood Map Service Center
Average annual rainfall
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
You already understand the Gulf. The step most people haven't taken is turning that understanding into a practiced response. That's a skill, and you can build it.