Ascension Parish, LA Hurricane Preparedness: Flood Elevation (2026)

5-32, the chapter's specific standards provision, applies wherever base flood elevation data exists for the site. Subsection (1) covers residential construction: new construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation, with a registered professional engineer, architect or land surveyor submitting a certification to the floodplain administrator that the standard is satisfied. Nonresidential buildings have an alternative under subsection (2): elevate to the base flood level, or floodproof the structure below that level so it is watertight with walls able to resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads, certified by an engineer or architect.

Subsection (4) addresses manufactured homes, which the chapter treats as particularly vulnerable in wind and storm-surge events: homes placed in Zone A must be installed using methods and practices that minimize flood damage and be elevated and anchored to resist flotation, collapse or lateral movement, with anchoring in addition to the state and local anchoring rules for wind forces. Subsection (5) covers recreational vehicles, which storm evacuations often leave parked on flood-prone lots: they must either stay fewer than 180 consecutive days, remain licensed and highway-ready, or meet the same permit and elevation rules as manufactured homes.

5-2 tie these standards directly to storm risk, citing periodic inundation which results in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, and disruption of commerce and governmental services.