Louisiana homeowners pay $62 a month for flood insurance, on average. Flood insurance is important in high-risk flood areas like Louisiana, as standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.
In this article
The cost of flood insurance in Louisiana
Most flood insurance policies are issued by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). According to FEMA, flood insurance costs an average $746 a year, or $62 a month, in Louisiana. This is slightly lower than the national average rate of $874 a year. Your final quote for flood insurance may vary depending on where you live in Louisiana and your area's particular flood risk.
We listed average annual rates below for flood insurance policies through the NFIP. The cost of NFIP flood insurance policies is determined by the U.S. government and can vary according to the flood zone you live in.
- A Special Flood Hazard Area, or SFHA, is usually designated by the letters A or V. These are high-risk flood areas.
- Zone X is a minimal to moderate-risk area.
- Zone D indicates areas where there are possible, but undetermined, flood risks.
| Flood zone | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
| A | $909 |
| A99 | $645 |
| AE | $925 |
| AH | $596 |
| AO | $570 |
| D | $1,904 |
| V | $2,115 |
| VE | $2,471 |
| X | $606 |
| Source: National Flood Insurance Program | |
Do I need flood insurance in Louisiana?
If you have a federally-backed mortgage and live in a Special Flood Hazard Area in Louisiana, you are required by federal law to have flood insurance. If you don't live in an SFHA, your mortgage lender may require you to carry flood insurance to protect their investment.
If you are not required to have flood insurance, we still recommend purchasing it. According to FEMA, more than 25% of NFIP flood insurance claims come from areas that are outside high-risk flood zones.
Risk of flooding in Louisiana
Many homes in Louisiana are at risk of flooding. Zone X, which is a minimal- to moderate-risk zone, has the second-highest number of losses after Zone AE in Louisiana.
According to NFIP data, around 35% of owner-occupied housing units in Louisiana have flood insurance through FEMA. According to Risk Factor, due to rising seas, about 300,000 more properties in the state of Louisiana are at risk of flooding over the next 30 years.
What does flood insurance cover in Louisiana?
Flood insurance covers two types of damage: damage to your home and damage to your belongings - called building coverage and contents coverage, respectively. A standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover flood damage. This is where flood insurance comes in.
Flood insurance building coverage
Building coverage takes care of your home's structure and appliances. This includes:
- The structure of the house
- The home's foundation walls
- Plumbing and electrical systems
- Refrigerators and built-in dishwashers
- Detached garages
NFIP flood insurance policies provide up to $250,000 in building coverage.
Flood insurance contents coverage
Contents coverage protects the belongings in your home, including:
- Furniture, clothing and electronics
- Carpentry not covered under dwelling coverage
- Washers and dryers
- Up to $2,500 in valuables, such as art and furs
NFIP flood insurance includes up to $100,000 in contents coverage.
How do I get flood insurance in Louisiana?
To get a flood insurance policy in Louisiana, you'll have to contact an insurer that sells flood insurance. Some recommended providers include:
- Allied Trust Insurance Company
- Wright National Flood
- The Hartford
- Allstate
- USAA
- Farmers
For a complete list of writers of NFIP policies in Louisiana, see NFIP's flood insurance company list. The majority of Louisiana homeowners looking for flood insurance purchase policies through providers taking part in the NFIP. Private insurers can also provide flood insurance. There are pros and cons to both NFIP and private flood insurance companies.
NFIP flood insurance vs. private flood insurance
NFIP flood insurance policies are available for anyone who needs flood insurance, regardless of flood risk, and are accepted by practically all mortgage providers. Furthermore, NFIP-backed policyholders are guaranteed renewal as long as they pay their premiums. This can prevent you from being stuck without coverage.
The main downside of an NFIP-backed flood insurance policy is the coverage limit. NFIP flood insurance dwelling coverage caps at $250,000. If your home's rebuild cost is higher than the cap, you could be out a considerable amount of money.
The key benefit of a flood insurance policy from a private provider is higher coverage limits. Private flood insurance has coverage limits above the NFIP's $250,000 cap for dwelling coverage, and many offer caps up to $500,000.
The key downsides of a private flood insurance policy are not only potentially higher premiums, but if you live in a high-risk flood area, your policy could be dropped. Because of this level of unreliability, mortgage owners may not accept flood insurance from a private company.
Methodology
We sourced our data exclusively through government agencies. Rate and loss data came from FEMA and population data came from the U.S. Census Bureau.
QuoteWizard.com LLC has made every effort to ensure that the information on this site is correct, but we cannot guarantee that it is free of inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. All content and services provided on or through this site are provided "as is" and "as available" for use. QuoteWizard.com LLC makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation of this site or to the information, content, materials, or products included on this site. You expressly agree that your use of this site is at your sole risk.