Improvements Lead to Flood Insurance Rate Break in Louisiana Parish

Residents of unincorporated St. Tammany Parish in Louisiana are getting $1.9 million in premium decreases for federal flood insurance.

Officials say that’s the result of an improvement in the parish’s flood rating — translating into an average 10 percent drop in premiums. Parish President Kevin Davis says the parish has been working on flood prevention projects.

As of March 31, St. Tammany Parish had 35,720 flood insurance policies in place. That costs residents about $19.7 million a year.

The federal insurance program has paid about $1 billion in claims in the parish.