5+ years writing insurance and personal finance topics
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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.
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
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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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.
Quick Facts
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
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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.
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]
Good to Know
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.
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Tips for filing a flood insurance claim in Louisiana
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.
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.
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.
Edited byKatie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
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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