Key facts: New Orleans
- The Sewerage and Water Board's system can move more than 45,000 cubic feet of water per second.[1]
- By August 31, 2005, about 80 percent of the city was underwater after Katrina,[2] and many homes carry repairs from that era.
- Shotgun houses, thought to have started in the Creole neighborhoods of the early 1800s, are often raised on piers, as are many cottages.[3]
Rain versus the pumps
The Sewerage and Water Board's system can move more than 45,000 cubic feet of water per second.[1] Even so, a downpour can outrun it for a few hours, and street flooding may reach cars and doorsteps without any named storm. By August 31, 2005, about 80 percent of the city was underwater after Katrina,[2] and many homes carry repairs from that era.
A closer look in New Orleans
Shotguns, cottages and raised floors
Flood claims recorded in Orleans Parish
New Orleans sits in Orleans Parish. FEMA publishes every National Flood Insurance Program claim with personal details removed, which gives a plain record of where water has reached insured buildings here.
| Measure | Count |
|---|---|
| Flood insurance claims on record | 127,255 |
| Year with the most claims | 2005 (71,538) |
| Largest named event | Hurricane Katrina (69,964) |
| Claims outside high-risk A and V zones | 25% |
| Claims on buildings built before 1975 | 81% |
County-wide counts of insured claims only. Uninsured losses, burst pipes and appliance leaks are not in this data.
What the New Orleans claim record shows
For New Orleans homes, the local precedents are the events behind the most Orleans Parish claims: Hurricane Katrina (69,964 claims), Flooding (36,168 claims) and Tropical Storm Isidore (3,119 claims).
About 25% of claims with a recorded zone came from outside the high-risk A and V zones, so a moderate-risk label does not mean a New Orleans home stays dry.
If your New Orleans home is older, note that buildings from before 1975 make up 81% of county claims with a known build date. Many predate current flood maps, so inspect low outlets, ductwork and subfloors closely after any water event.
Federal disaster history for Orleans Parish
FEMA lists 39 federal declarations covering Orleans Parish. The most common types are hurricane (26), coastal storm (4) and other (2). The latest are Severe Winter Storm in 2021, Hurricane Francine in 2024 and Tropical Storm Francine in 2024. When a declaration is open, federal aid may be available to New Orleans residents, so ask about it alongside your insurance claim.
New Orleans weather and your home
Weather records for New Orleans from 2015 through 2024 average 69 inches of precipitation a year, and August and July are the wettest months. The area averages 16.5 days a year with an inch or more.
Freezing nights are rare, at about 2 a year in New Orleans, so the bigger concerns are storms, plumbing failures and humidity.
At 17 heavy-rain days a year, clear gutters matter in New Orleans, and doors and low windows are worth watching.
When rain falls in New Orleans
Seasonal averages for New Orleans, 2015 through 2024. Plan roof, gutter and sump pump checks before the wettest stretch.
| Season | Average | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | 13.8 in | 20% |
| April to June | 18.0 in | 26% |
| July to September | 23.5 in | 34% |
| October to December | 13.4 in | 20% |
Modeled from Open-Meteo historical weather data. Precipitation includes rain and melted snow.
New Orleans home checklist from these records
- Don't rely on recent quiet years. Only 4% of Orleans Parish claims date from 2015 or later, so older floods still show what can happen.
- Test any sump pump before August, since New Orleans averages 17 days a year with an inch or more.
- Keep dated photos of each room. After Hurricane Katrina, 69,964 insured Orleans Parish owners filed claims at about the same time.
What to tell the New Orleans contractor
- Your neighborhood
- Whether the house is raised or on slab
- Whether water came from the street or roof
Services New Orleans callers ask about
Questions
New Orleans water damage questions
Can a raised New Orleans house still get damaged?
Yes. Water can wet the floor framing and insulation below, and roof leaks do not care about elevation.
Why does mold move so fast here?
Warm, humid air slows drying, so the EPA's 24 to 48 hour target can be harder to meet without equipment.