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5+ years writing insurance and personal finance topics
Auto, home, health, and life insurance expertise
Elizabeth has extensive insurance industry experience, having written for Insureon, Rate Retriever, and Insurify. She’s also finance and insurance editor for Car and Driver.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
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Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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Data expert on auto trends and driver behavior
University of Chicago graduate with statistics degree
Chase spearheads analytics for Insurify’s data insights team. With his deep expertise in insurance data, Chase is often interviewed on industry trends.
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Louisiana is one of the most flood-prone states, especially during hurricane season. More than 477,000 homes in Louisiana are at a substantial risk of flooding, according to 2020 data from the First Street Foundation. By 2050, an estimated 810,000 homes will be at risk.[1]
Because regular home insurance policies exclude coverage for flood damage, many Louisiana homeowners can benefit from having flood insurance. If you live in a flood zone, your mortgage lender may require you to buy it.
Here’s what you need to know about how Louisiana flood insurance works, how much it costs, and where you can purchase a policy.
The median risk-based cost of flood insurance in Louisiana is $1,470 per year, according to FEMA data.[2]
Homeowners living in high-risk flood zones, such as Zones A and V, typically need to carry flood insurance.
Louisiana homeowners living in Plaquemines Parish have the most expensive annual flood insurance cost in the state, at $4,752.
Cost of flood insurance in Louisiana
The cost of flood insurance in Louisiana depends on various factors. Some of the criteria used to calculate insurance premiums include the ZIP code, the likelihood of floods occurring in the area, the property’s elevation, and the replacement cost value of the home. The combined factors determine a risk rating that influences your premium.
The median cost of flood insurance for a single-family home in Louisiana is $1,470 per year, according to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In comparison, the U.S. median flood insurance premium is $1,290 per year.
Below, you can see the average annual flood insurance costs in the 64 Louisiana parishes. Homeowners in Catahoula, Caldwell, and Concordia parishes pay the lowest rates on average, while people in Plaquemines, Cameron, and St. Mary pay the most.
Parish | Annual Flood Insurance Cost |
---|---|
Acadia | $1,282 |
Allen | $866 |
Ascension | $931 |
Assumption | $2,420 |
Avoyelles | $438 |
Beauregard | $1,203 |
Bienville | $963 |
Bossier | $456 |
Caddo | $717 |
Calcasieu | $2,269 |
Caldwell | $407 |
Cameron | $4,119 |
Catahoula | $400 |
Claiborne | $1,311 |
Concordia | $425 |
De Soto | $686 |
East Baton Rouge | $655 |
East Carroll | $477 |
East Feliciana | $1,820 |
Evangeline | $821 |
Franklin | $639 |
Grant | $772 |
Iberia | $2,948 |
Iberville | $782 |
Jackson | $765 |
Jefferson Davis | $1,645 |
Jefferson | $2,012 |
Lafayette | $1,064 |
Lafourche | $3,368 |
LaSalle | $979 |
Lincoln | $953 |
Livingston | $1,722 |
Madison | $562 |
Morehouse | $597 |
Natchitoches | $606 |
Orleans | $1,310 |
Ouachita | $586 |
Plaquemines | $4,752 |
Pointe Coupee | $453 |
Rapides | $539 |
Red River | $512 |
Richland | $592 |
Sabine | $1,466 |
St. Bernard | $1,193 |
St. Charles | $1,864 |
St. Helena | $1,207 |
St. James | $1,565 |
St. John the Baptist | $2,046 |
St. Landry | $998 |
St. Martin | $1,007 |
St. Mary | $4,103 |
St. Tammany | $1,625 |
Tangipahoa | $1,371 |
Tensas | $468 |
Terrebonne | $3,221 |
Union | $1,350 |
Vermilion | $3,225 |
Vernon | $1,256 |
Washington | $1,322 |
Webster | $1,374 |
West Baton Rouge | $572 |
West Carroll | $503 |
West Feliciana | $1,323 |
Winn | $1,057 |
Do you need flood insurance in Louisiana?
Flood insurance in Louisiana isn’t a legal requirement. But if you own a home in a high-risk area or flood zone, many mortgage companies will require you to carry flood insurance. Even if your home isn’t in a high-risk flood zone, purchasing flood insurance can still be a good investment.
Nearly all standard homeowners insurance policies exclude coverage for flood-related damage, even if a natural disaster causes the damage. Louisiana is susceptible to flooding from heavy rain, hurricanes, storm surges, and levee failures, but your home insurance won’t cover any flood damage to your home or personal items.
Having flood insurance fills the gap in your home insurance policy and provides financial protection if a flood damages or destroys your home.
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Learn More: Am I in a Flood Zone?
How to determine your flood risk
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designates flood zones based on the level of flood risk in a given area.
Here are the different zone classifications and what they mean:
Zone A: This zone has the highest risk of flooding. Homeowners in Zone A typically need to purchase flood insurance as a mortgage requirement.
Zone V: Homes in Zone V are near the coast and are at additional flood risk from storm waves. So, homeowners in Zone V usually need flood insurance.
Zone D: Flood risk in Zone D is undetermined.
Zones B and X (shaded): In Zones B and X, homes have a moderate risk of flooding. Homeowners generally don’t need to have flood insurance.
Zones C and X (unshaded): Zones C and X have the lowest risk of flooding. Homeowners don’t need to carry flood insurance as a requirement from their mortgage lender.[3]
To find your home’s flood zone in Louisiana, you can visit the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and enter your home address. You can also view LSU’s Ag Center Floodmaps to see the flood risk in your area with ground elevation data.
What flood insurance covers in Louisiana
Regular home insurance policies don’t cover flooding and flood-related perils. To protect your home against flooding, you must purchase a separate Louisiana flood insurance policy.
Here’s what flood insurance covers:
Building coverage
The building coverage portion of an NFIP flood insurance policy covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home after a flood.[4] It’ll cover things like electrical and plumbing systems, cabinets, water heaters, detached garages, and solar equipment, with a maximum limit of $250,000.
Contents coverage
Contents coverage will pay to replace personal items, appliances, carpets, furniture, clothing, and other personal property with a coverage limit of $100,000.[5]
What flood insurance doesn’t cover
Flood insurance doesn’t cover everything. An NFIP flood insurance policy doesn’t cover the following:[4]
Additional living expenses
Temporary housing
Landscaping
Septic systems
Pools and hot tubs
Fencing
Patios and decks
Business interruption
Personal items stored in basements
Cars
How to buy flood insurance in Louisiana
Homeowners in Louisiana have two options for purchasing flood insurance. You can get coverage through the NFIP or buy a policy through a private insurance company.
These two options have several differences. NFIP flood insurance is a federally backed program, whereas private insurance companies underwrite private flood insurance policies. Additionally, private flood insurance tends to provide higher policy limits and additional coverages, like temporary living expenses.[6] You might also find that private flood insurance is cheaper, and you may qualify for discounts.
To purchase flood insurance coverage through the NFIP, you can search online for insurers that sell coverage in Louisiana. To get private flood insurance, you’ll need to research local insurance companies that offer private flood policies.
Tips for filing a flood insurance claim in Louisiana
To file a flood insurance claim in Louisiana, here are the steps you should follow:
Document the damage. When it’s safe, document the damage to the structure of your home and personal belongings. Take photos and write down exactly what happened and what the flooding damaged.
Contact your insurance company. Contact your flood insurance company and start the claim process. You’ll need to provide information about the claim, fill out some paperwork, and give a detailed description of the event. You should also share the photos you took.
Make temporary repairs. If necessary, make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Keep receipts for any materials you purchased, as you can include them in your claim to receive reimbursement for those costs.
Meet with an adjuster. Depending on the extent of the damage, your insurance company might send out an adjuster to see the damage in person. This helps them better understand how much the repairs will cost.
Receive your settlement. The adjuster will investigate your claim and keep you updated on the progress. You’ll receive a settlement for the estimated cost of repairs, minus any deductibles.
Average cost of home insurance in Louisiana
Louisiana homeowners pay an annual average of $5,136 for a policy with $300,000 dwelling coverage — nearly double the national average of $2,532 with the same coverage, according to Insurify data.
It’s important to compare rates from multiple insurers so you can find affordable coverage that suits your needs. The table below shows the cheapest annual average rates from various insurance companies.
Data expert on auto trends and driver behavior
University of Chicago graduate with statistics degree
Chase spearheads analytics for Insurify’s data insights team. With his deep expertise in insurance data, Chase is often interviewed on industry trends.
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Insurance Company | Average Yearly Premium: With $300,000 in Dwelling Coverage |
---|---|
Foremost | $2,616 |
USAA | $2,652 |
State Farm | $4,476 |
Encompass | $4,872 |
Farmers | $4,920 |
Allstate | $5,136 |
Louisiana flood insurance FAQs
The following information can help answer your remaining questions about Louisiana flood insurance.
What is the average cost of flood insurance in Louisiana?
The median cost of NFIP flood insurance in Louisiana is $1,470 per year. But some ZIP codes have higher and lower rates. The median cost of flood insurance in Louisiana ranges from around $400 to more than $9,000 per year.
Who provides flood insurance in Louisiana?
Property owners in Louisiana can get flood insurance through the NFIP or a private flood insurer. Some of the private insurers that serve Louisiana homeowners include Neptune Insurance, Wright Flood, and FlowFlood.
Does Louisiana require flood insurance?
Louisiana doesn’t require flood insurance. But people with a mortgage who live in high-risk areas may need to carry flood insurance.
What is the most flood insurance you can get?
The maximum flood insurance coverage will depend on the flood insurance underwriter. For residential homes, the NFIP offers maximum limits of $250,000 for building coverage and $100,000 for contents coverage. Keep in mind that you might be able to get more coverage from a private flood insurance company.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed rates from more than 180 home insurance companies sourced directly from Insurify’s partner companies and Quadrant Information Services. Rates span all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and quote averages represent the mean price for a given coverage level and geographic area. To ensure data reliability, only insurers meeting minimum quote thresholds were included in the analysis.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for homeowners with no prior claims and good credit with a home construction year of 1980. The default coverage assumptions include:
Default Coverage Assumptions
- Dwelling coverage: $300,000
- Deductible: $1,000
- Personal property limit: $25,000
- Liability limit: $300,000
Additional data points beyond these default values are sourced from Insurify’s proprietary database. Rates are updated monthly.
Related articles
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Am I in a Flood Zone?
)
How Much Does Flood Insurance Cost?
)
How to Buy Flood Insurance for Your Home
)
Private Flood Insurance vs. FEMA: Which Is Right for You?
)
Flood Insurance Requirements for Homeowners?
)
Flood Insurance: What It Covers and Who Needs It
)
How Flood Insurance Payouts Work
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Flood Zone X: What You Need to Know
Sources
- First Street Foundation. "The First National Flood Risk Assessment."
- FEMA. "Cost of Flood Insurance for Single-Family Homes under NFIP’s Pricing Approach."
- FEMA. "What are Flood Zones and Maps?."
- FEMA. "What flood insurance covers."
- FEMA. "Types of flood insurance."
- Louisiana Department of Insurance. "Frequently Asked Questions about Flood Insurance."
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Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer covering insurance and personal finance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance. Her byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and Insurance.com.
Elizabeth has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
)
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Featured in
)
Data expert on auto trends and driver behavior
University of Chicago graduate with statistics degree
Chase spearheads analytics for Insurify’s data insights team. With his deep expertise in insurance data, Chase is often interviewed on industry trends.
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