Does French Quarter flood?
French Quarter, New Orleans, LA · ZIP codes 70116, 70130 and 70112: the ZIP codes on most of the flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines.
Yes. Insured properties in and around French Quarter have filed flood claims. About 39% of French Quarter’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 720 claims from the Census block groups that cover French Quarter, from 1978 through 2021. 312 of them received a payment, totaling $10,019,715 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2005 (411 claims), 1995 (93 claims), 1980 (44 claims).
What this page counts as French Quarter
We could not find an openly licensed official boundary for French Quarter, so this page uses a census-based area. For this page, French Quarter means the 2010 Census block groups whose center lies inside the National Register of Historic Places boundary of the Vieux Carre Historic District (National Park Service). Every number below is for exactly those block groups (listed in “How these numbers were made”), so the edges are approximate and may include or leave out a few blocks people would call French Quarter. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places boundaries (NRHP polygons) and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names.
Past claims do not predict future flooding, and a neighborhood figure cannot tell you about one building. Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get flood insurance quotes before you sign a lease or a contract.
Check a specific address in French Quarter
Neighborhood figures are averages. Our address check looks up the FEMA flood zone at one address, from the same public maps: check if your address is in a flood zone.
Flood zones street by street in French Quarter
The named streets in French Quarter, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside French Quarter lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside French Quarter; the main zone is the FEMA zone covering most of that length. A street can cross several zones, so the zone at one address can differ from the street’s main zone: check the address above for that. 3 shorter streets are not listed.
| Street | Length | In high-risk zones | Main zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| N Rampart St | 1.1 mi | 13% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (52%) |
| Decatur St | 4,690 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Royal St | 4,310 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Chartres St | 4,310 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Bourbon St | 4,300 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Iberville St | 3,400 ft | 7.4% | X (unshaded, minimal) (57%) |
| Bienville St | 3,280 ft | 7.1% | X (unshaded, minimal) (70%) |
| N Peters St | 3,190 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Esplanade Ave | 3,170 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Conti St | 3,030 ft | 3.8% | X (unshaded, minimal) (70%) |
| Burgundy St | 2,940 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (86%) |
| Dauphine St | 2,930 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (88%) |
| Saint Louis St | 2,760 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (84%) |
| St Peter St | 2,520 ft | 7.1% | X (unshaded, minimal) (74%) |
| Toulouse St | 2,290 ft | 11% | X (unshaded, minimal) (69%) |
| Saint Ann St | 2,280 ft | 6.7% | X (unshaded, minimal) (75%) |
| Dumaine St | 2,280 ft | 1.4% | X (unshaded, minimal) (81%) |
| Basin St | 2,130 ft | 16% | X (unshaded, minimal) (42%) |
| Canal St | 1,670 ft | 14% | X (unshaded, minimal) (86%) |
| Barracks St | 1,520 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Orleans Ave | 1,460 ft | 1.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (62%) |
| Governor Nicholls St | 1,420 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Gov Nicholls St | 1,420 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Ursulines Ave | 1,330 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Exchange Pl | 730 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
Streets: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads). Flood zones: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, retrieved October 24, 2026. Each street is clipped to the area boundary and measured in an equal-area projection. Street lengths are rounded.
Flood zones in French Quarter
Share of French Quarter’s mapped area (about 1.579 km²) in each FEMA flood zone, from FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Mapped base flood elevations inside the neighborhood range from 1 to 3 feet. Effective date of the FIRM panel(s) covering it (22051C0225F, 22071C0229F, 22071C0233F, 22087C0460D): September 30, 2016, December 21, 2017, February 2, 2018.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 55% |
| AE | 39% |
| X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) | 5.7% |
What the zones mean
- Zone AE (and A, AH, AO)
- High-risk: part of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), the area FEMA maps as having a 1-percent chance of flooding in any given year (the “100-year” or base flood). AE areas have a mapped base flood elevation.
- Zone VE (and V)
- High-risk coastal areas, also in the SFHA, where the base flood is expected to bring additional hazards from storm waves.
- Zone X (shaded)
- Moderate hazard: between the limits of the 1-percent and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (“500-year”) flood.
- Zone X (unshaded)
- Minimal hazard: outside the SFHA and higher than the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood elevation. Minimal is not zero: flood claims are filed from X zones too.
Source: FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
Flood insurance claims over time
Claims filed under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) from the 2010 Census block groups that cover French Quarter. This area is made of whole block groups, so every claim counted here comes from inside it. Only insured properties appear, so these counts understate total flooding.
By decade
| Decade | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 21 | $50,488 |
| 1980s | 99 | $352,049 |
| 1990s | 138 | $1,320,072 |
| 2000s | 434 | $7,409,196 |
| 2010s | 27 | $878,330 |
| 2020s | 1 | $9,581 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
- Hurricane Katrina: 408 claims
- Flooding: 222 claims
- Tropical Storm Barry: 11 claims
- Greater New Orleans Flooding: 5 claims
- Tropical Storm Isidore: 3 claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 551
- A/AE/AH/AO (high risk): 166
- V/VE (coastal high hazard): 2
- Not reported: 1
How much is flood insurance in French Quarter?
The typical National Flood Insurance Program policy on single-family homes in French Quarter costs $1,043 a year: the median of 47 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $871 and $1,101. That is the full amount paid for the year, the premium plus FEMA’s fees and surcharges, and every one of these policies is priced under Risk Rating 2.0. A quote for one building can be far from this: its elevation, foundation, age, coverage and deductible all change the price. Private flood insurance is not included.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Policies - v3, computed October 24, 2026.
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Before you rent or buy in French Quarter
- Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center; a neighborhood can mix high-risk and minimal-hazard zones.
- Ask the landlord or seller about past flooding and flood insurance claims at the property.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: new NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start (FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy).
- Ask which floor the unit is on and where parking, storage and mechanical equipment sit.
Living in French Quarter
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare French Quarter with other New Orleans neighborhoods on more than flooding, see New Orleans on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does French Quarter flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around French Quarter have filed flood claims. About 39% of French Quarter’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 720 claims from the Census block groups that cover French Quarter, from 1978 through 2021. 312 of them received a payment, totaling $10,019,715 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2005 (411 claims), 1995 (93 claims), 1980 (44 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is French Quarter in a flood zone?
About 39% of French Quarter’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. Shares by zone: X (unshaded, minimal) 55%; AE 39%; X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) 5.7%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect September 30, 2016, December 21, 2017, February 2, 2018.
Which streets in French Quarter are in a high-risk flood zone?
No street listed here has most of its length in FEMA high-risk zones. Less than 10% of Decatur St, Royal St, Chartres St, Bourbon St, Iberville St, Bienville St, N Peters St and Esplanade Ave does. Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is French Quarter in?
French Quarter is in New Orleans, LA. ZIP codes 70116, 70130 and 70112: the ZIP codes on most of the flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines. Check the specific address for its own flood zone.
Do renters need flood insurance?
Standard renters policies usually do not cover flood. Renters in a community that participates in the NFIP can buy contents-only flood coverage, up to $100,000 for belongings.
How long does a new flood policy take to start?
A new NFIP policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase. Exceptions include no wait when the policy is bought while making, increasing, extending or renewing a mortgage, and a one-day wait in a newly designated high-risk zone within 12 months of the map change.
How much coverage can NFIP provide?
For a one-to-four family home, NFIP building coverage goes up to $250,000 and contents coverage up to $100,000. You can buy flood insurance even if you are not in a high-risk zone, as long as your community participates in the NFIP.
How much is flood insurance in French Quarter?
The typical NFIP flood insurance policy on single-family homes in French Quarter cost $1,043 a year: the median of 47 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half cost between $871 and $1,101. One building’s quote can be far from this; its elevation, foundation, age, coverage and deductible all change the price.
FAQ sources: FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy; FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025); 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
Nearby neighborhoods
- Does Marigny flood?
- Does Algiers Point flood?
- Does New Marigny flood?
- Does Mid-City flood?
- Does Esplanade Ridge flood?
- Does Bywater flood?
How these numbers were made
Area: the census-based definition above, using U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places boundaries (NRHP polygons) and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names. Flood zone shares: the area polygon intersected with FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, area computed in an equal-area projection; retrieved October 24, 2026. Claims: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3 records for Orleans Parish (county code 22071), dataset as of September 8, 2026, retrieved October 24, 2026. Claims are counted for exactly the block groups that make up the area. Block groups used: 220710135002, 220710135003, 220710135001, 220710135004, 220710038002. Neighboring pages can share a block group, so their counts can overlap. Paid totals add building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments and are not adjusted for inflation; a claim whose FEMA record shows a negative payment (an adjustment) counts as zero. See the methodology.
Sources
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims - v3. Retrieved on October 24, 2026.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Retrieved on October 24, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places boundaries (NRHP polygons) and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names.
- FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
- FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy.
- FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025).
- 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
- OpenFEMA Terms and Conditions.
- FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Policies - v3.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads).
Data as of September 8, 2026 (FEMA claims) and October 24, 2026 (flood zones). Page last updated October 27, 2026.