Natural hazards · Westwego

Westwego, LA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Westwego comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 982 claims here since 1978. 16 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Westwego?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Westwego to be higher than in 95% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes.

Hurricanes75%Inland flooding13%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Westwego faces

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

Hurricanes

75% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

13% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 30% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Westwego flood?

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

982paid claims since 1978

$10.9Mpaid to owners

101homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Katrina: 106 claims, $3.3M
Tropical Storm Barry: 16 claims, $662K
Hurricane Isaac: 15 claims, $79K

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 2 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (29) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Westwego is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Jefferson Parish.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

26homes raised above flood level

4flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Westwego

16 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WestwegoDeclared for Jefferson Parish only

2024

Hurricane Francine

456 households applied for aid $645K aid approved

2021

Hurricane Ida

9,875 households applied for aid $21.6M aid approved $1.7M to the City of Westwego for repairs

2020

Hurricane Zeta

338 households applied for aid $273K aid approved $84K to the City of Westwego for repairs

2020

Hurricane Laura

1 household applied for aid $500 aid approved $6K to the City of Westwego for repairs

2019

Hurricane Barry

$8K to the City of Westwego for repairs

2017

Tropical Storm Nate

$12K to the City of Westwego for repairs

2012

Hurricane Isaac

4,085 households applied for aid $1.6M aid approved $471K to the City of Westwego for repairs

2008

Hurricane Ike

179 households applied for aid $118K aid approved

2008

Hurricane Gustav

4,658 households applied for aid $924K aid approved $358K to the City of Westwego for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

206 households applied for aid $198K aid approved

2005

Hurricane Rita

1,731 households applied for aid $1.1M aid approved

2005

Hurricane Katrina

15,926 households applied for aid $55.7M aid approved $5.1M to the City of Westwego for repairs

2005

Tropical Storm Cindy

$12K to the City of Westwego for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

64 households applied for aid $34K aid approved $56K to the City of Westwego for repairs

2002

Hurricane Lili

$34K to the City of Westwego for repairs

2002

Tropical Storm Isidore

$46K to the City of Westwego for repairs

Jefferson Parish has had 37 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and floods.

Around Westwego

Westwego and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Westwegomostly hurricanesVery high

New Orleansmostly hurricanesVery high

Marreromostly hurricanesVery high

Bridge Citymostly hurricanesVery high

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. Westwego covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Westwego’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Westwego. 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 Westwego total about $4.8M 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.