Natural hazards · Covington

Covington, LA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Covington comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 528 claims here since 1978. 14 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Covington?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Covington to be higher than in 96% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes58%Inland flooding32%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Covington faces

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

Hurricanes

58% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Inland flooding

32% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Covington flood?

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

528paid claims since 1978

$16.0Mpaid to owners

68homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Late winter severe storms: 103 claims, $7.0M
Hurricane Ida: 32 claims, $1.3M
Hurricane Isaac: 25 claims, $1.1M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 2 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (20) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 10% off flood insurance. Covington is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: St. Tammany Parish.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

81homes raised above flood level

3flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

2buildings retrofitted against wind

Disasters that hit Covington

14 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into CovingtonDeclared for St. Tammany Parish only

2026

Tropical Storm Arthur

80 households applied for aid $164K aid approved

2024

Hurricane Francine

$57K to the City of Covington for repairs

2021

Hurricane Ida

15,980 households applied for aid $11.9M aid approved $4.8M to the City of Covington for repairs

2020

Hurricane Delta

1 household applied for aid

2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

1,200 households applied for aid $4.4M aid approved $211K to the City of Covington for repairs

2012

Hurricane Isaac

1,745 households applied for aid $917K aid approved $93K to the City of Covington for repairs

2008

Hurricane Ike

48 households applied for aid $48K aid approved

2008

Hurricane Gustav

2,890 households applied for aid $393K aid approved $386K to the City of Covington for repairs

2005

Hurricane Rita

489 households applied for aid $166K aid approved

2005

Hurricane Katrina

18,868 households applied for aid $44.6M aid approved $1.6M to the City of Covington for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

4 households applied for aid $7K aid approved $21K to the City of Covington for repairs

2002

Hurricane Lili

$92K to the City of Covington for repairs

2002

Tropical Storm Isidore

$18K to the City of Covington for repairs

2001

Tropical Storm Allison

$16K to the City of Covington for repairs

St. Tammany Parish has had 37 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. Covington covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Covington’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Covington. 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 Covington total about $11.3M 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.