Louisiana averages 9 hurricane impacts per decade. Peak season runs August – October. Know your risk, know your zone, and sign up for alerts before the season starts.
Hurricane Katrina (2005) caused $125 billion in damage and killed over 1,800 people, making it the costliest U.S. natural disaster at the time.
Louisiana uses parish-level mandatory evacuation orders. Contraflow begins on I-10, I-55, and I-59 when a major storm threatens.
Prep tip: Louisiana's coastal parishes can flood even in tropical storms. If you're in a flood zone, leave early — do not wait for mandatory orders.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 – November 30. Peak activity in Louisiana typically occurs during August – October. The statistical peak of the season is September 10.
Up to 20 feet in coastal parishes; New Orleans is below sea level. Storm surge is the deadliest aspect of a hurricane — it can arrive hours before the storm's center. Use our storm surge lookup at /storm-surge to check your specific ZIP code.
Yes — Louisiana has a extreme hurricane risk and standard homeowner's insurance does not cover flood damage. You need a separate NFIP flood insurance policy. See our full guide at /hurricane-insurance.
Start before the season: know your evacuation zone, build a 7-day emergency kit, have a family communication plan, and sign up for local emergency alerts. Use our preparedness checklist builder at /preparedness for a personalized list.