Natural hazards · Patterson

Patterson, LA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Patterson comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 69 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 Patterson?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Patterson to be higher than in 92% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes.

Hurricanes69%Tornadoes10%Inland flooding10%Cold waves6%Everything else5%

By hazard

What Patterson faces

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

Hurricanes

69% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Tornadoes

10% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 65% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

10% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 15% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 21% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHailIce 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 Patterson flood?

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

69paid claims since 1978

$974Kpaid to owners

12homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Francine: 7 claims, $163K
Tropical Storm Allison: 6 claims, $58K
Hurricane Ike: 2 claims, $8K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: St. Mary Parish.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1homes raised above flood level

1buildings retrofitted against wind

Disasters that hit Patterson

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into PattersonDeclared for St. Mary Parish only

2024

Hurricane Francine

1,255 households applied for aid $2.8M aid approved

2021

Hurricane Ida

1,356 households applied for aid $1.4M aid approved $83K to the City of Patterson for repairs

2020

Hurricane Delta

$29K to the City of Patterson for repairs

2020

Hurricane Laura

$29K to the City of Patterson for repairs

2019

Hurricane Barry

$63K to the City of Patterson for repairs

2012

Hurricane Isaac

282 households applied for aid $350K aid approved

2008

Hurricane Ike

246 households applied for aid $698K aid approved $59K to the City of Patterson for repairs

2008

Hurricane Gustav

1,141 households applied for aid $919K aid approved $109K to the City of Patterson for repairs

2005

Hurricane Rita

1,045 households applied for aid $614K aid approved $37K to the City of Patterson for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

574 households applied for aid $488K aid approved $15K to the City of Patterson for repairs

2002

Hurricane Lili

$10K to the City of Patterson for repairs

2001

Tropical Storm Allison

$5K to the City of Patterson for repairs

St. Mary Parish has had 34 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. Patterson covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Patterson’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Patterson. 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 Patterson total about $3.0M 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.