LIVINGSTON PARISH, La. — Livingston Parish has achieved a significant milestone in flood protection and financial relief for residents, with Parish President Randy Delatte announcing the community's dramatic improvement in FEMA's Community Rating System during a recent appearance on WBRZ Channel 2.
The parish has jumped from a Class 10 rating, which provided no flood insurance discounts, to a Class 7 rating, securing a 15% discount on flood insurance premiums for residents in Flood Zones A, AE, and X. The improvement represents the best rating Livingston Parish has ever achieved, surpassing its previous high of Class 9.
According to Delatte's announcement, the achievement follows extensive efforts to address lingering issues from the devastating 2016 floods that displaced thousands of families across the region. When the current administration took office, the parish was completely out of the Community Rating System with a Class 10 rating.
The parish president brought in flood management expert Cindy O'Neal, who worked alongside parish staff member Kim Hymel to tackle FEMA compliance issues. Their work identified approximately 200 potential violations tied to the 2016 flood event, all of which were subsequently resolved.
The financial impact for residents will be substantial. Beginning in April 2026, the improved rating will save Livingston Parish families more than $1 million annually in reduced flood insurance premiums.
The Community Rating System is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. Communities can receive up to a 45% discount on flood insurance premiums based on the level of flood risk reduction activities they undertake.
In his social media announcement following the WBRZ appearance, Delatte emphasized that the achievement represents more than administrative success, describing it as proof of what can be accomplished through collaborative effort to protect homes and families.
The parish president credited the Livingston Parish Council for their support in making the achievement possible.
The announcement comes nearly nine years after the August 2016 floods that devastated much of South Louisiana, including Livingston Parish, where thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed. The natural disaster prompted widespread discussions about flood management and insurance costs in the region.
The saga began in March of 2019, when the parish was removed from the Community Rating System (CRS) due to inappropriate permitting policies - including an inability to provide permits for a cross-section of flood elevation certificates requested by FEMA.
During that time, a Community Assistance Visit (CAV) was administered and the parish received a follow-up letter from FEMA, sometime in May of 2019.
The results of the CAV were outlined:
The issues were not resolved during the previous administration, with Parish President Delatte deciding to bring in O'Neal to navigate the issue.
