Few American cities have a relationship with water like New Orleans. About half of it sits at or below local mean sea level, rain averages more than 60 inches a year, and FEMA has called it the nation's most hurricane-vulnerable city. Raised cottages, shotgun houses and century-old plaster walls add their own challenges when it is time to dry out.
Fire & Water Energy makes referrals and does no restoration work itself. Call (866) 937-3230 and we'll try to put you in touch with an independent contractor serving Orleans Parish. Whether anyone is available depends on local providers when you call. Our how it works page and referral disclosure explain the arrangement.
Living below sea level: rain, surge and hurricane history
The city lies on the Mississippi River, south of Lake Pontchartrain and roughly 105 river miles from the Gulf. A complex system of levees and drainage pumps keeps the bowl dry, but heavy rain can outrun it; the May 8, 1995 flood exposed those limits and led to drainage upgrades. Annual rainfall averages about 62.5 inches, with summer the wettest season.
Hurricane Katrina's levee failures in 2005 flooded more than 80% of the city, and weeks later Rita's surge reflooded the Lower Ninth Ward. Since then, FEMA declarations for Orleans Parish have included Hurricane Gustav (2008), Hurricane Isaac (2012), Hurricane Zeta (2021 declaration), Hurricane Ida (2021) and Hurricane Francine (2024). Wikipedia notes Zeta was the most intense hurricane ever to pass directly over the city.
Everyday leaks and water damage repair in historic housing
Between storms, the usual culprits are roof leaks during summer downpours, failed AC condensate pans in attics, plumbing under raised floors and old supply lines in renovated doubles. Raised homes can hide a leak in the crawlspace for weeks, while slab-on-grade houses in newer areas can wick water into flooring.
Hard freezes are uncommon, with fewer than eight freezing nights in a typical year, but the January 2025 snowfall of 8 to 10 inches and FEMA's 2021 Severe Winter Storms declaration show that exposed pipes can still burst. For water damage restoration in New Orleans, ask a contractor how they will dry plaster, cypress framing and wood floors without causing cracking or cupping. See also structural drying.
Federal disaster declarations that included Orleans Parish
FEMA records show Orleans Parish was included in 18 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (14 hurricane, 1 severe ice storm, 1 tornado, 1 severe storm, 1 coastal storm, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in New Orleans 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 New Orleans?
Call (866) 937-3230 and tell us what happened at your New Orleans property.
Smoke and soot in tightly packed neighborhoods
Shotgun houses and Creole cottages often stand only a few feet apart, so smoke from a neighbor's fire can travel into the house next door through attic vents and gaps. NOLA Ready also lists wildfire and air quality among the hazards it tracks, since smoke from marsh fires can drift over the city.
Soot on painted millwork, fabric and old plaster calls for careful testing before cleaning. A typical contractor will remove loose residue first, clean surfaces, treat odor and address any water left from firefighting. Read about smoke damage cleanup and smoke odor removal.
Flood and hurricane cleanup across Orleans Parish
Storm surge, levee overtopping and street flooding from intense rain all bring water that should be treated as Category 3, since it can carry sewage and chemicals. Wet insulation, drywall and carpet are usually removed, and framing is cleaned and dried before rebuilding. Wind damage to roofs and fallen trees often happen in the same event.
The city's NOLA Ready site links to a Sewerage and Water Board pump and power dashboard and to reported street flooding, which can help you judge whether it is safe to travel. Our hurricane damage cleanup and flood damage restoration pages describe the work in more depth.
Why mold moves fast in the Crescent City
Summer dewpoints in the low 70s mean the air rarely helps materials dry on their own. A hidden drip under a raised floor or inside a wall can turn into visible growth well before anyone smells it.
EPA guidance says homeowners can usually clean less than about 10 square feet of mold themselves using proper protection. Anything larger, anything tied to floodwater, or growth inside walls and HVAC is better handled through professional mold remediation with containment.
Practical first moves for New Orleans residents
- Call 911 for fire, injuries, gas odors or people stranded by water. Do not drive into flooded underpasses.
- Text NOLAREADY to 77295 for city emergency alerts from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
- Check the Entergy outage map before assuming power is off, and never touch wiring while standing in water.
- Photograph damage, keep receipts and hold onto removed items for your adjuster. Policies differ, and flood is often a separate policy, so talk with your insurer or agent.
- Wear gloves, boots and a mask around floodwater, soot and mold.
Hiring a restoration contractor in Louisiana
Ask for a written scope, ask whether the contractor holds IICRC certification, and check whether Louisiana or the city requires a license or permit for the work. If your home is in a local historic district, confirm what approvals exterior repairs need. Neighbors in Metairie, Gretna and Marrero can also use our Louisiana service area page.
Neighborhoods and nearby communities
Areas in and around New Orleans that callers often mention include:
- French Quarter
- Tremé
- Faubourg Marigny
- Bywater
- Lower Ninth Ward
- Garden District
- Lower Garden District
- Irish Channel
- Carrollton
- Broadmoor
- Mid-City
- Bayou St. John
- Gentilly
- Lakeview
- New Orleans East
- Algiers
Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from New Orleans):
New Orleans restoration FAQs
Why does New Orleans flood even without a hurricane?
Roughly half the city sits at or below sea level, so rainwater has to be pumped out. Intense downpours can exceed what the drainage system moves at once, as the May 1995 flood showed. Watching street flooding reports through NOLA Ready can help you avoid trouble spots.
How do I get official emergency alerts?
The city's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness offers alerts by text: send NOLAREADY to 77295, or ESP to 77295 for Spanish. The NOLA Ready site also links to the pump status dashboard and outage map.
Can older raised homes be dried out after a flood?
Often they can, but plaster, old-growth framing and wood floors need patient, monitored drying. Ask the contractor how they will measure moisture and how long they expect equipment to run before any rebuild.
Is mold likely after a leak here?
Very likely if materials stay wet, because summer humidity is high. Dry wet areas quickly, and follow EPA guidance that larger areas over about 10 square feet are usually a job for professionals.
Does Fire & Water Energy do the cleanup?
No. We are a referral service that tries to connect callers with independent restoration contractors. Call (866) 937-3230 to ask who may be available in Orleans Parish.
Restoration guides
- Hurricane Damage Cleanup
- Flood Damage Restoration
- Water Damage Restoration
- Structural Drying
- Mold Remediation
- Smoke Damage Cleanup