Know Your Flood Risk
All Gretna properties are at risk of flooding from rain, which can occur during any season of the year. In the late summer, hurricanes also pose serious threats.
Make a plan so you can be prepared if the water rises.
How Flooding Occurs
Flood water collects because much of Gretna lies at or below sea level with land prone to subsidence or sinking. Water is conveyed out of the city through a series of pipes and canals using gravity drainage.
Determine your Flood Zone
Due to the fact that much of the land in Gretna is low, your property may be in a Special Flood Hazard Area as determined by FEMA through the use of Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Maps that show flood hazard areas are on file in the Building Department at Gretna City Hall or your local library.
Understand your Flood Zone
Property owners in Flood Zone AE (high risk) are required to carry flood insurance if they have a federally backed mortgage. For properties in Flood Zone X, flood insurance is highly recommended as flood do not respect zone boundaries. Facts shows that 20 percent of all flood insurance claims through the National Flood Insurance Program and receive one-third of federal disaster assistance for flooding.
