How Much Is Flood Insurance in Louisiana? Average Flood Insurance Cost and Coverage


Updated: October 3, 2024

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Please note that flood insurance is not usually included in homeowners or renters insurance. Luckily, you can avoid this financial risk by getting a flood insurance policy.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the cost of flood insurance typically depends on specific factors, like the construction type, where the building is located and its elevation.

Every property is vulnerable to flooding. Hence, MoneyGeek strongly urges homeowners to consider purchasing flood insurance. FEMA determined that an inch of water can cost you $25,000 in damages. Flood insurance offers protection against significant expenses in the event your home gets flooded.

The parish in which you live heavily impacts your flood insurance premiums.

Flood insurance in Louisiana costs $750 per year, on average.

The NFIP has several private insurance partners that offer flood insurance in Louisiana.

Average Cost of Flood Insurance in Louisiana

In Louisiana, the average cost of flood insurance is $750 per year. This rate depends on your parish’s flood risk and individual property risk. For instance, individuals who live in areas with moderate-risk or high-risk flood zones tend to pay pricier premiums.

Average Cost of Flood Insurance by Parish in Louisiana

Louisiana’s average flood insurance premiums are $17 cheaper than the national average. This may be because Louisiana’s flood-prone areas are clustered in one small part of the state.

Another factor that impacts your flood insurance rates is your parish’s flood risk. MoneyGeek’s research found that Red River Parish has the most expensive premiums, costing roughly $1,439 per year. Meanwhile, the parish with the cheapest flood insurance is St. Thomas, with rates at $302 per year.

Below is a table that reflects the average cost of flood insurance in each Louisiana parish.

Louisiana Flood Insurance Cost per Parish
ACADIA PARISHAverage Cost$870
ALLEN PARISHAverage Cost$811
ASCENSION PARISHAverage Cost$752
ASSUMPTION PARISHAverage Cost$597
AVOYELLES PARISHAverage Cost$695
BEAUREGARD PARISHAverage Cost$672
BIENVILLE PARISHAverage Cost$593
BOSSIER PARISHAverage Cost$787
CADDO PARISHAverage Cost$801
CALCASIEU PARISHAverage Cost$742
CALDWELL PARISHAverage Cost$924
CAMERON PARISHAverage Cost$1,330
CATAHOULA PARISHAverage Cost$968
CLAIBORNE PARISHAverage Cost$898
CONCORDIA PARISHAverage Cost$641
DE SOTO PARISHAverage Cost$933
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISHAverage Cost$763
EAST CARROLL PARISHAverage Cost$784
EAST FELICIANA PARISHAverage Cost$889
EVANGELINE PARISHAverage Cost$795
FRANKLIN PARISHAverage Cost$791
GRANT PARISHAverage Cost$652
IBERIA PARISHAverage Cost$867
IBERVILLE PARISHAverage Cost$705
JACKSON PARISHAverage Cost$700
JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISHAverage Cost$786
JEFFERSON PARISHAverage Cost$710
LAFAYETTE PARISHAverage Cost$621
LAFOURCHE PARISHAverage Cost$771
LA SALLE PARISHAverage Cost$764
LINCOLN PARISHAverage Cost$739
LIVINGSTON PARISHAverage Cost$919
MADISON PARISHAverage Cost$847
MOREHOUSE PARISHAverage Cost$649
NATCHITOCHES PARISHAverage Cost$830
ORLEANS PARISHAverage Cost$734
OUACHITA PARISHAverage Cost$840
PEARL RIVER COUNTYAverage Cost$516
PLAQUEMINES PARISHAverage Cost$793
POINTE COUPEE PARISHAverage Cost$662
RAPIDES PARISHAverage Cost$867
RED RIVER PARISHAverage Cost$1,439
RICHLAND PARISHAverage Cost$737
SABINE PARISHAverage Cost$812
ST. BERNARD PARISHAverage Cost$639
ST. CHARLES PARISHAverage Cost$691
ST. HELENA PARISHAverage Cost$949
ST. JAMES PARISHAverage Cost$557
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISHAverage Cost$861
ST. LANDRY PARISHAverage Cost$811
ST. MARTIN PARISHAverage Cost$777
ST. MARY PARISHAverage Cost$1,052
ST. TAMMANY PARISHAverage Cost$764
ST. THOMASAverage Cost$302
TANGIPAHOA PARISHAverage Cost$698
TENSAS PARISHAverage Cost$637
TERREBONNE PARISHAverage Cost$803
UNION PARISHAverage Cost$1,048
VERMILION PARISHAverage Cost$877
VERNON PARISHAverage Cost$833
WASHINGTON PARISHAverage Cost$823
WEBSTER PARISHAverage Cost$1,263
WEST BATON ROUGE PARISHAverage Cost$562
WEST CARROLL PARISHAverage Cost$535
WEST FELICIANA PARISHAverage Cost$617
WINN PARISHAverage Cost$635

Companies That Offer Flood Insurance in Louisiana

You can purchase your flood insurance either from the NFIP or a private insurance provider. Private carriers usually have two kinds of policies: a base policy which is similar to an NFIP policy, and an excess policy for extra coverage.

It may be ideal to purchase a policy from a private company if your household is not in an NFIP community or if NFIP coverage isn’t sufficient for your needs.

Private Flood Insurance Providers in LA
Company
Contact

Neptune Flood

727-202-4815

Aon Private Flood

888-281-0684

Hiscox - FloodPlus

866-283-7545

FloodSimple Insurance Services

844-803-8788

Chubb

866-324-8222

If you’re unsure about where to start, the NFIP is partnered with insurance companies in Louisiana. Browse the table below for the state’s NFIP-participating providers.

NFIP-Participating Flood Insurance Providers and Their Contact Numbers
Company
Contact

Allied Trust

(844) 200-2842

Allstate Insurance Company

(800) 527-2634

American Nat. Prop. & Casualty

(417) 887-4990

American Strategic Ins. Corp.

(866) 274-8765

Assurant

(800) 423-4403

Bankers Insurance Group, DBA: First Community Insurance Company

(800) 627-0000

Centauri Specialty Ins. Company

(866) 318-4113

Farmers Insurance Group

(866) 865-2965

How to Purchase Flood Insurance and Its Coverage Requirements

Because flood insurance has no special requirements, it’s relatively easy to purchase a policy. You can either reach out to your home insurance agent or call the NFIP hotline at 877-336-2627.

It takes 30 days for an NFIP policy to kick in, so it’s wise to purchase flood insurance as soon as possible. On the other hand, private insurance providers in Louisiana have a 10-day waiting period. However, it’s best to call your carrier to confirm.

What Does Flood Insurance Cover in Louisiana?

Flood insurance protects against the cost of repairing or replacing a building’s structures and contents. Unfortunately, just an inch of flood water in your home can cost $25,000 in damages.

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Flood insurance only covers water damage caused by a natural weather event. It does not protect against flooding damage from broken pipes or leaking appliances.

A flood insurance policy only protects the structure and your personal belongings. Thus, it excludes coverage for paperwork, swimming pools, decks, patios, landscaping, cash and basement items. If you need flood insurance for your vehicle, consider comprehensive insurance.

Flood Insurance Building Coverage

Building coverage helps cover the expenses needed to repair or replace your home’s structure. You can usually get $250,000 worth of coverage through an NFIP policy.

Generally, the building coverage portion of flood insurance covers the following:

  • Foundation walls
  • Electrical systems
  • Plumbing systems
  • Furnaces, central heating and air conditioning
  • Built-in appliances
  • Permanent carpets
  • Built-in furniture

It may help to read the fine print or directly ask your provider so you know exactly what is covered.

Flood Insurance Contents Coverage

Flood insurance also includes contents coverage. This covers expenses for the replacement or repair of your personal items. With the NFIP, it’s possible to purchase up to $100,000 in contents coverage.

Flood insurance contents coverage typically covers personal belongings such as:

  • Clothing
  • Furniture
  • Electronic equipment
  • Washers and dryers
  • Artwork

Factors That Affect Flood Insurance Costs in Louisiana

Flood insurance rates were previously computed based on a home’s general location on a flood map. On the FEMA website, you can find an online tool that determines the historical flood risk of your state.

Among parishes for which MoneyGeek has complete data, Plaquemines Parish had 11 flooding events, which is the fewest in Louisiana, and its average flood insurance premiums cost an average of $793 per year. Conversely, Caddo Parish had 113 flooding events, and flood insurance rates cost roughly $801 per year.

While Caddo Parish has the most flood events, its premiums are barely higher than the state average in Louisiana. Because Caddo is a large parish, it’s likely that flood events are spread across a wider area, suppressing parish-wide flood insurance premiums.

Risk Rating 2.0

FEMA introduced Risk Rating 2.0 in October 2021. Instead of solely focusing on flood zone proximities, the new rating system accounts for individual factors, such as foundation type, frequency of flooding, elevation and replacement costs.

Your location still significantly influences your flood insurance rates, but not to the degree it used to. Below, you’ll find a list that dives into the various factors that impact the average cost of flood insurance in Louisiana.

    building icon

    Flood Risk

    With FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0, your flood risk is heavily based on individual factors. Hence, your neighbor’s flood risk and premiums may be different from yours. Premiums can also be more expensive if your area is a high-risk flood zone.

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    Coverage Type

    Your desired coverage type influences your flood insurance rate. Naturally, more coverage entails more expensive premiums. Please note that the availability of coverage options depends on your state and parish.

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    Deductible

    If you opt for a higher deductible, you can get a lower monthly rate. Deductibles generally range between $1,000 and $10,000.

    When you file a claim and have a higher deductible, you’re paying more for out-of-pocket costs.

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    Age of Structure

    When computing your flood insurance rate, insurers also account for the age of your home. Usually, premiums are more expensive for individuals with older homes as opposed to those with newer ones.

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    Structure Design

    The construction material used for your home may affect the cost of your flood insurance. Additionally, your home’s design is an important factor when providers calculate rates.

Do You Need Flood Insurance in Louisiana?

Individuals who live in a moderate- or high-risk flood zone are required to buy flood insurance if they choose a government-backed mortgage or lender. Regardless of how flood-prone your area might be, FEMA highly encourages homeowners to purchase flood insurance since it offers additional protection.

Keep in mind that homeowners and renters insurance doesn’t typically include protection from flood damage, which is why you need to buy a separate policy from the NFIP or a private company. Even if there isn’t a presidential disaster declaration, flood insurance providers must still pay policyholders more than the federal assistance grant (a maximum of $5,000 per household).

Overall, flood insurance is a worthwhile investment — aside from financial protection, it can offer peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions About Louisiana Flood Insurance

MoneyGeek answered the most commonly asked questions about Louisiana flood insurance so you can get a headstart.

What is the average cost of flood insurance in Louisiana?
Which companies offer flood insurance in Louisiana?
What kind of damage does flood insurance cover?
What affects flood insurance rates in Louisiana?

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


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