Louisiana homeowners pay $63 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

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), flood insurance costs an average $752 a year, or $63 a month, in Louisiana. This is slightly lower than the national average rate of $771 a year. Your final quote for flood insurance may vary depending on where you live in Louisiana and your area's particular flood risk.

The FEMA flood map breaks down parts of Louisiana into low, moderate or high risk. Flood insurance policies are available either as a preferred risk or standard risk policy.

If you make four or more claims at $5,000 a claim, or if two claims combined equal the cost of your home, NFIP might offer you a grant to prevent future flood damage. If you choose not to accept the grant, you can expect to see your flood insurance premium increase in the future.

Preferred risk flood insurance

A preferred risk flood insurance policy is for homes not built in high-risk flood zones, also known as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). FEMA defines a high-risk flood zone as an area with at least a 1% chance of flooding in a given year. This is also commonly known as "base flood" risk. Preferred risk policies provide the same coverage as a standard risk flood insurance policy, but the premium for a preferred risk policy is lower due to the decreased risk of flood.

Standard risk flood insurance

Standard flood risk insurance is for homes in high-risk flood zones. If your home is built in an area with a one in four chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage, it falls into this category.

It's important to know that your property's flood zone can change over time. Therefore, try to find a flood insurance company that offers both preferred risk and standard risk policies. This can make it easier if your home gets rezoned and you have to change policy types. You can use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center to determine your home's flood zone.

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, ovens and dishwashers
  • Debris removal after a flood

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 policyholders are covered for up to $100,000 in contents coverage.

Is my basement covered by flood insurance?

Both dwelling and contents coverage for basements under a flood insurance policy are minimal, including:

  • Furnaces, central air conditioners and heat pumps
  • Electrical junction and circuit breaker boxes
  • Well water tanks and pumps
  • Stairways and elevators
  • Unpainted drywall and ceilings
  • Post-flood cleanup

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.

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

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

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.

Private flood insurance

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.

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