The census-designated place covers only about 3.3 square miles, and roughly 17 percent of that is water. New Orleans borders it on the east, Elmwood on the west, and Metairie to the north beyond a drainage canal, railroad and the Earhart Expressway. Suburban growth followed the 1928 opening of the highway along the river, and older subdivisions such as Jefferson Heights, Rio Vista, Azalea Gardens and Camellia Gardens still carry their names.
Fire & Water Energy works only as a referral service. Phone (866) 937-3230 and we will try to connect you with an independent restoration contractor that serves this part of the East Bank, depending on which local companies are free. Background is on our how it works page, and the referral disclosure explains our role.
Three feet of elevation and a long hurricane record
Ground this low leaves little margin when heavy rain arrives faster than pumps and canals can move it. The parish has appeared in about 20 FEMA major disaster declarations since 2000, among them the 2007 Severe Storms and Tornadoes, Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike (2008), Tropical Storm Lee (2011), Hurricane Isaac (2012), Hurricane Barry (2019), Hurricane Laura, Delta and Zeta (2020-2021), Hurricane Ida (2021) and Hurricane Francine (2024).
For Francine, the National Weather Service tallied 6 to 9 inches of rain parish-wide, overflowing canals and widespread tropical-storm-force winds with a few hurricane-force gusts. Its report counted 264 flooded homes in Kenner; it did not break out damage for this community.
Water damage repair in older East Bank homes
Much of the housing grew out of 20th-century subdivisions, and in older homes worn-out plumbing, tired water heaters and patched roofs are common sources of leaks. A sewer line backing up during a downpour, an air handler dripping into a hallway ceiling, or a split hose behind the washer can all leave inches of water on the floor. The 2021 Severe Winter Storms declaration also covered the parish, so exposed pipes can freeze in a rare hard cold.
Water damage restoration in Jefferson typically means finding and stopping the source, extracting water, measuring moisture in walls and subfloor, and running drying equipment until readings are normal. Learn the stages on our water damage restoration and sewage cleanup pages.
Federal disaster declarations that included Jefferson Parish
FEMA records show Jefferson Parish was included in 20 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (14 hurricane, 3 severe storm, 2 coastal storm, 1 severe ice storm, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Jefferson was affected. The most recent:
- 2024 – Hurricane Francine (DR-4817)
- 2021 – Hurricane Ida (DR-4611)
- 2021 – Severe Winter Storms (DR-4590)
- 2021 – Hurricane Zeta (DR-4577)
- 2020 – Hurricane Delta (DR-4570)
- 2020 – Hurricane Laura (DR-4559)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved 2026-10-10. Counts include major disaster (DR) declarations with hurricane, flood, severe storm, tropical storm, fire, tornado, coastal storm, winter or ice storm, mudslide and dam/levee incident types.
Water, fire or storm damage in Jefferson?
Call (866) 937-3230 and tell us what happened at your Jefferson property.
Fire damage and smoke cleanup
Local history includes notable fires: the Rosedale plantation house was destroyed by two fires in 1978, and the old Beverly Country Club building burned down in 1983. In homes today, cooking and electrical fires are more typical, and smoke moves through ducts and closets, staining walls and clothing far from where the flames were.
A reputable company will usually board up openings, remove charred debris, clean soot from surfaces and belongings, and treat odor in the structure. More detail sits on our fire damage restoration and smoke odor removal pages.
Overflowing canals and storm cleanup
Water that comes up from streets and canals is contaminated with sewage and runoff, so porous materials it touches generally have to go. Contractors commonly cut drywall above the waterline, remove flooring, disinfect, and dry the framing before repairs. Hurricane winds add fallen trees, roof damage and outages that leave wet houses without air conditioning.
Our flood cleanup and hurricane damage cleanup pages describe how those jobs usually proceed.
Mold in a riverfront climate
Between the river, canals and Gulf humidity, wet materials dry slowly here, and mold can establish itself on drywall, baseboards and carpet backing in a day or two. Pay attention to musty odors after a storm or a plumbing leak, especially in closets on exterior walls.
According to the EPA, areas under about 10 square feet can often be cleaned by a homeowner wearing protection. Larger growth, hidden mold or anything after sewage or floodwater should be handled with professional containment. See mold remediation for the typical approach.
Safety steps for Old Jefferson households
- Call 911 for fire, injuries, gas odors or anyone caught in water.
- Follow parish instructions and National Weather Service New Orleans/Baton Rouge warnings before and after storms.
- Stay out of standing water that may be energized, and leave the breaker panel alone if it is wet.
- Photograph and video every damaged room, and keep receipts. Coverage depends on your policy; check with your insurer or agent, and note that flood and sewer backup coverage are often separate.
- Wear rubber boots, gloves and an N95 during cleanup.
Neighborhoods and nearby communities
Areas in and around Jefferson that callers often mention include:
- Jefferson Heights
- Rio Vista
- Azalea Gardens
- Camellia Gardens
- Southport
- Shrewsbury
Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Jefferson):
Jefferson restoration FAQs
How low is Old Jefferson?
Wikipedia gives an elevation of about 3 feet above sea level, and roughly 17 percent of the community's area is water. That low ground is why heavy rain and drainage are constant concerns.
What did Hurricane Francine do in Jefferson Parish?
The National Weather Service reported 6 to 9 inches of rain, overflowing canals, widespread tropical-storm-force winds and isolated hurricane-force gusts. It counted 264 flooded homes in Kenner but did not list damage for individual East Bank communities.
Can sewage back up into my house during heavy rain?
It can happen when sewer and drainage systems are overwhelmed. Sewage is Category 3 water, so avoid contact, keep children and pets away, and have contaminated materials removed and the area disinfected.
Which neighborhoods are part of Jefferson?
Wikipedia lists the 20th-century subdivisions Jefferson Heights, Rio Vista, Azalea Gardens and Camellia Gardens, plus older communities such as Southport and Shrewsbury that are now part of the area.
Do you do the restoration work?
No. We are a referral service that tries to connect you with an independent restoration contractor serving the area. We cannot guarantee availability or timing, and you decide whom to hire.
Restoration guides
- Water Damage Restoration
- Sewage Cleanup
- Flood Cleanup
- Hurricane Damage Cleanup
- Fire Damage Restoration
- Mold Remediation