Natural hazards · Abbeville

Abbeville, LA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Abbeville comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 358 claims here since 1978. 12 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Abbeville?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Abbeville to be higher than in 98% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding50%Hurricanes39%Cold waves5%Everything else6%

By hazard

What Abbeville faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

50% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Hurricanes

39% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

Cold waves

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Abbeville flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Abbeville, from FEMA’s records.

358paid claims since 1978

$12.1Mpaid to owners

25homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Mid-summer severe storms: 123 claims, $7.6M
Hurricane Ike: 44 claims, $1.0M
Hurricane Rita: 16 claims, $812K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (10) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Abbeville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Vermilion Parish.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

43homes raised above flood level

20flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

10buildings retrofitted against wind

2buildings floodproofed

1storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Abbeville

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Abbeville itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Abbeville.

Brought FEMA money into AbbevilleDeclared for Vermilion Parish only

2021

Hurricane Ida

2 households applied for aid $110K to the City of Abbeville for repairs

2020

Hurricane Delta

1,142 households applied for aid $1.3M aid approved $251K to the City of Abbeville for repairs

2020

Hurricane Laura

1,013 households applied for aid $1.2M aid approved $252K to the City of Abbeville for repairs

2019

Hurricane Barry

$165K to the City of Abbeville for repairs

2017

Tropical Storm Harvey

$29K to the City of Abbeville for repairs

2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

1,704 households applied for aid $3.9M aid approved $49K to the City of Abbeville for repairs

2012

Hurricane Isaac

$10K to the City of Abbeville for repairs

2008

Hurricane Ike

1,134 households applied for aid $1.1M aid approved $130K to the City of Abbeville for repairs

2008

Hurricane Gustav

2,665 households applied for aid $725K aid approved $728K to the City of Abbeville for repairs

2005

Hurricane Rita

7,375 households applied for aid $14.9M aid approved $628K to the City of Abbeville for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

68 households applied for aid $173K aid approved $67K to the City of Abbeville for repairs

2002

Hurricane Lili

$2.2M to the City of Abbeville for repairs

Vermilion Parish has had 33 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and floods.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Abbeville covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Abbeville’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Abbeville. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Abbeville total about $6.6M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.