St. Bernard Parish, LA Environment & Hazard Risk

• HurricaneRelatively High$25.31M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• Coastal floodingRelatively Moderate$1.57M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.2 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$550K/yr expected annual loss, about 83 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$848K/yr expected annual loss, about 9.3 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$1.02M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• TornadoRelatively Low$1.27M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.2 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$23.7K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,357 years
• DroughtRelatively Low$41.16K/yr expected annual loss, about 26 events a year
• HailVery Low$137K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• EarthquakeVery Low$99.46K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,136 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$22.95K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• Ice stormVery Low$12.07K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 21 years
• Strong windVery Low$120K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• LandslideVery Low$18/yr expected annual loss, about once every 25 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

8,351 of 14,712 (56.8%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

1,922

Insured in high-risk zones

2,185 (0%)

Flood claims since 1978

23,919

Claims paid since 1978

$2.25B

• Excessive Heat43
• Tropical Storm34
• Storm Surge/Tide33
• Thunderstorm Wind27
• Flash Flood21
• Hurricane (Typhoon)21 · 140 deaths
• Drought19
• Tornado10 · 2 deaths
• Hail8
• Heavy Rain6

• Hurricane (Typhoon)08/28/2005

  Lower St. Bernard

  140 deaths, $1.78B damage

  What happened

  Hurricane Katrina was one of the strongest and most destructive hurricanes on record to impact the coast of the United States. It will likely be recorded as one the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States to date resulting in catastrophic damage and numerous casualties in southeast Louisiana and along the Mississippi coast. Damage and casualties resulting from Hurricane Katrina extended as far east as Alabama and the panhandle of Florida. Katrina developed from a tropical depression southeast of the Bahamas on August 24th. After moving through the Bahamas as a tropical storm, Katrina strengthened to a category 1 hurricane prior to landfall in south Florida around the Miami area on the 25th of August. Katrina crossed south Florida and entered the Gulf of Mexico and began to strengthen. Hurricane Katrina strengthened to a category 5 storm on August 28th about 250 miles south southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River with winds reaching their peak intensity of 175 mph and a central pressure of 902 mb. Post event analysis by the National Hurricane Center indicates that Katrina weakened slightly before making landfall as a strong category 3 storm in...

• Storm Surge/Tide08/29/2005

  Lower St. Bernard

  $3.02B damage

  What happened

  Storm surge damage in southeast Louisiana, especially in the New Orleans area and the coastal parishes, was catastrophic. Hurricane protection levees and floodwalls were overtopped and/or breached resulting in widespread and deep flooding of homes and businesses. Much of Orleans and Plaquemines Parishes and nearly all of St. Bernard Parish were flooded by storm surge. Approximately 80 percent of the city of New Orleans was flooded. Thousands of people were stranded by the flood waters in homes and buildings and on rooftops for several days and had to be rescued by boat and helicopter. In Jefferson Parish, levees were not compromised, however many homes were flooded by either heavy rain overwhelming limited pumping capacity or storm surge water moving through in-operable pumps into the parish. Severe storm surge damage also occurred along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain from Mandeville to Slidell with storm surge water moving inland as far as Old Towne Slidell with water up to 6 feet deep in some locationsPost storm high water surveys of the area conducted by FEMA indicated the following storm surge estimates: Orleans Parish - 12-15 feet in east New Orleans to 9 to 12...

• Storm Surge/Tide08/29/2005

  Upper St. Bernard

  $3.02B damage

  What happened

  Storm surge damage in southeast Louisiana, especially in the New Orleans area and the coastal parishes, was catastrophic. Hurricane protection levees and floodwalls were overtopped and/or breached resulting in widespread and deep flooding of homes and businesses. Much of Orleans and Plaquemines Parishes and nearly all of St. Bernard Parish were flooded by storm surge. Approximately 80 percent of the city of New Orleans was flooded. Thousands of people were stranded by the flood waters in homes and buildings and on rooftops for several days and had to be rescued by boat and helicopter. In Jefferson Parish, levees were not compromised, however many homes were flooded by either heavy rain overwhelming limited pumping capacity or storm surge water moving through in-operable pumps into the parish. Severe storm surge damage also occurred along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain from Mandeville to Slidell with storm surge water moving inland as far as Old Towne Slidell with water up to 6 feet deep in some locationsPost storm high water surveys of the area conducted by FEMA indicated the following storm surge estimates: Orleans Parish - 12-15 feet in east New Orleans to 9 to 12...

• Hurricane (Typhoon)08/28/2005

  Upper St. Bernard

  $1.78B damage

  What happened

  Hurricane Katrina was one of the strongest and most destructive hurricanes on record to impact the coast of the United States. It will likely be recorded as one the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States to date resulting in catastrophic damage and numerous casualties in southeast Louisiana and along the Mississippi coast. Damage and casualties resulting from Hurricane Katrina extended as far east as Alabama and the panhandle of Florida. Katrina developed from a tropical depression southeast of the Bahamas on August 24th. After moving through the Bahamas as a tropical storm, Katrina strengthened to a category 1 hurricane prior to landfall in south Florida around the Miami area on the 25th of August. Katrina crossed south Florida and entered the Gulf of Mexico and began to strengthen. Hurricane Katrina strengthened to a category 5 storm on August 28th about 250 miles south southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River with winds reaching their peak intensity of 175 mph and a central pressure of 902 mb. Post event analysis by the National Hurricane Center indicates that Katrina weakened slightly before making landfall as a strong category 3 storm in...

• Storm Surge/Tide08/30/2021

  Lower St. Bernard

  $250M damage

  What happened

  Ida���s storm surge flooded areas outside the hurricane and storm damage risk reduction system levees. Along Hwy 46, the Florissant rock dam was overtopped by storm surge, flooding the communities of Delacroix, Yscloskey, Shell Beach, and Hopedale with up to 6-8 ft of water. Most structures in these areas are elevated, but water flooded numerous garages and other under-home storage areas. During the storm, 22 barges broke loose near Chalmette, one of which collided with the dock at the Valero refinery.

• Storm Surge/Tide08/30/2021

  Upper St. Bernard

  $250M damage

  What happened

  Ida���s storm surge flooded areas outside the hurricane and storm damage risk reduction system levees. Along Hwy 46, the Florissant rock dam was overtopped by storm surge, flooding the communities of Delacroix, Yscloskey, Shell Beach, and Hopedale with up to 6-8 ft of water. Most structures in these areas are elevated, but water flooded numerous garages and other under-home storage areas. During the storm, 22 barges broke loose near Chalmette, one of which collided with the dock at the Valero refinery.

• Flash Flood07/11/2026

  Versailles, St. Bernard Parish

• TornadoEF0, 0.7 mi path, 75 yd wide06/19/2026

  Arabi, St. Bernard Parish

  $100K damage

• Drought03/01/2026

  Lower St. Bernard Parish

• Drought03/01/2026

  Upper St. Bernard Parish

• Drought02/24/2026

  Upper St. Bernard Parish

• Drought02/24/2026

  Lower St. Bernard Parish

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind02/15/2026

  Chalmette, St. Bernard Parish

  $5,000 damage

• Excessive Heat07/23/2025

  Upper St. Bernard Parish

• Hurricane Katrina (2005)08/24/2005 · Landfall: FL, LA · 902 mbCategory 3127 mph nearby
• Hurricane Cindy (2005)07/04/2005 · Landfall: LA, MS · 991 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
• Hurricane Isidore (2002)09/15/2002 · Landfall: LA · 934 mbTropical storm63 mph nearby
• Tropical Storm Hanna (2002)09/12/2002 · Landfall: LA, MS · 1,001 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
• Tropical Storm Bertha (2002)08/05/2002 · Landfall: LA, TX · 1,007 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
• Hurricane Florence (1988)09/07/1988 · Landfall: LA · 982 mbTropical storm69 mph nearby
• Tropical Storm Beryl (1988)08/08/1988 · 1,001 mbTropical storm52 mph nearby
• Hurricane Camille (1969)08/14/1969 · Landfall: MS · 900 mbCategory 5173 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1955)08/26/1955 · Landfall: LA · 1,004 mbTropical storm52 mph nearby
• Tropical Storm Brenda (1955)07/31/1955 · Landfall: LATropical storm63 mph nearby

• St Bernard Parish WaterworksServes 44,783 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations