Waggaman takes its name from U.S. Senator George Augustus Waggaman, whose Avondale plantation here was swallowed by the Mississippi River in 1892. Today the community stretches between River Road and U.S. 90, with Avondale next door and Kenner, River Ridge and Harahan just across the river.
If you're facing water, wind or fire damage, call (866) 937-3230. Fire & Water Energy only makes referrals and isn't a contractor; we try to set you up with an independent restoration company serving Waggaman, subject to who has openings. Anyone curious about how we operate can check how it works or the referral disclosure.
Life on the West Bank: river, hurricanes and Ida's tower collapse
During Hurricane Ida on August 29, 2021, Entergy lost a 400-foot transmission tower close to the old Avondale Shipyard in neighboring Avondale, and its fall knocked out major transmission lines. Much of Jefferson Parish and all of New Orleans lost power, and some neighborhoods went ten days or longer before it was restored.
Since 2000, federal disaster declarations covering the parish add up to about twenty. Hurricane names dominate the list: Isaac in 2012, Barry in 2019, a trio in 2020 (Laura, Delta, Zeta), and Francine in 2024, plus the 2008 pair of Gustav and Ike and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. Severe weather of other kinds made it too, from 2007 storms and tornadoes to a 2021 bout of severe winter weather.
Common sources of water damage in Waggaman homes
Greater New Orleans averages roughly sixty-two and a half inches of rainfall annually, and the heaviest months come in summer, so roof and window leaks are frequent after strong storms. Inside, think AC condensate overflows, water heater failures, washing machine hoses and slow plumbing leaks under raised floors or in walls.
For water damage restoration, Waggaman residents can expect a contractor to stop the leak, extract water, probe walls and subfloors for trapped moisture, and keep fans and dehumidifiers going until things test dry, only then moving on to rebuilding. The water extraction page explains the first step, and water damage restoration describes the whole job.
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 Waggaman 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 Waggaman?
Call (866) 937-3230 and tell us what happened at your Waggaman property.
Generator season and fire safety
Long outages like the one after Ida mean generators, extension cords and candles in heavy use, all of which raise the odds of a house fire or carbon monoxide exposure. Kitchen and electrical fires happen year round, too.
Once flames are out, a restoration firm will generally seal up broken windows and roof holes, haul away what burned, and then work through every room wiping soot and neutralizing smell. Soot on walls and ceilings has its own page under soot removal, while the full rebuild path is under fire damage restoration.
Hurricane debris, roof damage and flooding
Hurricane wind brings down limbs and peels roofing, and the rain that follows soaks attics and walls. Heavy downpours can also overwhelm drainage and push water into homes. Engineering reviews of the New Orleans area have concluded that levees reduce but can't eliminate flood risk.
Outside water is treated as contaminated, so wet drywall, insulation and carpet usually come out before drying. See hurricane damage cleanup for tarping and debris work, and flood cleanup for interior steps.
Muggy summers and mold growth
Summer dewpoints around New Orleans typically sit between 71 and 73°F, which keeps indoor air damp whenever the AC is off. That's why homes closed up during a long outage often show mold soon after. EPA guidance says homeowners can usually clean less than about 10 square feet of mold; larger areas, or growth after floodwater, call for mold remediation with containment and filtration.
Safety checklist for Waggaman residents
- Call 911 for fire, injury, gas odor or downed power lines.
- Heed Jefferson Parish officials on when to leave and when it's safe to come home, and keep an eye on National Weather Service bulletins.
- Place generators outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents.
- Stay out of standing water until electricity to the area is off.
- Photograph damage and keep receipts, then ask your insurance agent which policy covers what; flood is usually separate from wind.
Neighborhoods and nearby communities
Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Waggaman):
Waggaman restoration FAQs
What happened to the power tower near Waggaman during Ida?
Ida brought down a 400-foot Entergy structure next to the Avondale Shipyard in 2021. It damaged eight major feeder lines, and some neighborhoods went more than ten days without power.
Does the river pose a risk to homes in Waggaman?
The Mississippi has reshaped this area before; it claimed the original Avondale plantation in 1892. Today levees line the river, but heavy rain and hurricanes remain the more common sources of water damage. Ask your agent about flood coverage either way.
How fast can mold grow after a storm here?
Mold can start within a day or two on wet materials in this humid climate. Remove soaked carpet and drywall and dry the home quickly once it's safe.
Do you send someone from your company?
No. Fire & Water Energy refers callers and has no workers of its own. What we can do is look for an independent contractor serving Waggaman and pass you along; that company handles the job.
Restoration guides
- Water Extraction
- Water Damage Restoration
- Hurricane Damage Cleanup
- Flood Cleanup
- Fire Damage Restoration
- Mold Remediation