States / Louisiana
Louisiana
50%
Population of State Living in Coastal Areas
$45.9 Billion
Coastal Employment
Annual Wages
16
Climate and Weather Disasters
(Affecting Louisiana 2010 to 2018)*
Coastal Demographics
Of the total population of approximately 4.6 million in Louisiana, 2.3 million people live in coastal portions of the state.
Coastal Economy
Coastal Louisiana employs 939,000 people annually, earning almost $46 billion. This equates to over $120 billion in gross domestic product.
Natural Hazards
Two billion-dollar weather disasters affected Louisiana in 2018—and a total of 16 affected the state between 2010 and 2018. An historic flooding event in August 2016, resulting from 20 to 30 inches of rainfall over several days, devastated a large area of southern Louisiana. More than 30,000 people were rescued from the floodwaters that damaged or destroyed over 50,000 homes, 100,000 vehicles, and 20,000 businesses. Costing $10.7 billion, it was the most damaging U.S. flood event since Superstorm Sandy hit the Northeast in 2012.

Sources:
American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates (NOAA Data)
*Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (NOAA Website)
(All economic and demographic facts represent the latest data available [2015] and are regularly updated as new data become available)
Making a Difference
in Louisiana
NOAA-Supported Shell Reef Fortifies Tribal Way of Life
The Takeaway: The Pointe-au-Chien people pushed back against floods and erosion by installing 200 tons of recycled oyster shells along a 400-foot shoreline.
Learn MoreProgram Promotes Wetland Restoration by Reducing Regulatory Burden
The Takeaway: The Louisiana coastal program led an innovative fee initiative that helps restore local wetlands vital to the commercial fishing industry.
Learn MoreRed Cross Using NOAA Tool to Pinpoint Vulnerable Populations
The Takeaway: NOAA’s Coastal County Snapshots help responders understand situation complexities.
Learn More