At Shreveport-Bossier, flood stage on the Red River is 30 feet and major flood stage is 33 feet, as reported in local news coverage. The river reached 37 feet on June 9, 2015. A river level is a reading at a gauge, not a measure of the water at any one house, and the cleanup follows the water that actually reaches the building.
Key takeaways
- Flood stage at Shreveport-Bossier is 30 feet, and major flood stage is 33 feet, according to local news coverage.
- The Red River reached 37 feet at Shreveport-Bossier on June 9, 2015, the highest local crest since the end of World War II.
- The 2015 crest flooded River Bluff, the Cash Point RV Park and the Riverwalk on the Bossier City side.
- A river reading is taken at a gauge, so it does not say how far the water will reach a particular house.
- Cleanup after a river crest covers the slab edge, the wall bottoms and the crawl space as well as the floors people walk on.
- The Red River does not take part in the National Flood Insurance Program, so the flood maps show no designated flood zone along it.
What are flood stage and major flood stage on the Red River?
Flood stage is the level at which the river begins to cause flooding at the gauge, and major flood stage is a higher level with more serious flooding. At Shreveport-Bossier, local news coverage gives 30 feet for flood stage and 33 feet for major flood stage.
The stage is a measurement at one point on the river. Water at a house can rise to a different level, depending on the ground, the drainage and the distance from the bank, so a stage figure is a guide to the river and not a forecast for any address.
For current levels and forecasts, the National Weather Service office in Shreveport is the source. This guide did not check current readings, so ask that office for the latest figures.
What was the June 2015 crest, and what did it flood?
The Red River reached 37 feet at Shreveport-Bossier on June 9, 2015. Local news coverage described it as the highest local crest since the end of World War II, and it flooded River Bluff, the Cash Point RV Park and the Riverwalk on the Bossier City side.
A crest of that height is far above flood stage. The flood did not reach only the parks and roads on the bank; the local record also shows homes affected, which is why the cleanup for a house in the city is planned as a whole-building job.
The 2015 crest is the local reference point. It shows the scale of what a river can do in Bossier City, and it is the case a homeowner should keep in mind when deciding how much to read and record after any high-water event.
What did March 2016 add to the picture?
In March 2016 more than 20 inches of rain fell across northwest Louisiana in a few days. The rise forced more than 3,500 families out of their homes across the region, and Bossier City neighborhoods were flooded, including Golden Meadows and areas along Red Chute Bayou.
March 2016 was a rain flood, not a river crest, and it showed that the sky can flood a city house without the river being involved. A homeowner who lives near the river and a homeowner who lives away from it can both take in water from heavy rain.
The lesson for the cleanup is that the source must be identified every time. A river crest, a rain flood and a burst line each reach the building in a different way, and each one changes what the crew reads first.
The rain event also shows why early records matter. Water from heavy rain can arrive from several sides within a few hours, and a photograph of the outside of the house at the time is the best record of where it entered.
What does a river level tell a homeowner about the house?
A river level tells you about the river at a gauge. It does not tell you how far water will reach a specific house, which depends on the ground, the drainage, the openings and the foundation. Use the level as a warning sign, and use the crew and the insurer to answer the question for your property.
A rising river is a reason to be careful. Keep valuables up off the floor, avoid the bank, and listen to local emergency guidance. A river that is falling is not a sign that the house is dry, because the water in the ground and the walls can stay for longer than the flood itself.
Do not wade into moving water to check on the house, and do not drive through flooded roads. Those are the most dangerous parts of a river event, and they are not improved by an early look.
How is the cleanup after a river crest different?
River water usually arrives from outside, carries silt and debris, and soaks the foundation, the slab edge and the bottom of the walls. The cleanup therefore covers more of the building, and the crew takes readings in the places water travels, not only on the floor.
The crew removes standing water, classifies the affected materials, removes those that cannot be dried and dries the rest to readings. Each step is recorded so the owner can see the basis for every decision.
The drying can take longer than a leak job because the water has been in the ground and the framing for longer. The house is ready for repair only when the readings in the walls, the subfloor and the slab edge reach the dry goal.
Expect the crew to ask how long the water stood and how high it came, because those answers form part of the classification. If you can, write down the time the water was first seen and the time it was last seen above the floor, and give both to the crew.
What should I do when the river is high near my home?
Move valuables and important papers up and out of the lowest rooms, keep the power in the affected area off if the panel is near water, and avoid standing water. Photograph the house and the yard before the water arrives, so there is a record of the starting condition.
If you must leave, keep your phone charged and a written list of the people to call. Keep the insurer's contact details in the same place, and note the policy number.
When the water has gone, call (833) 490-5225. Calls are answered 24/7, and a crew is sent as soon as one is free. No arrival time is promised over the phone, because it depends on what is already in progress.
Keep a list of the rooms that are lowest, the outside doors and any vents near the ground, so that if water starts to come in you can tell the crew exactly where to look. A short written list is quicker to use under pressure than memory.
Does a river level tell me whether my house is in a flood zone?
No. The Red River does not take part in the National Flood Insurance Program, so the program's maps show no designated flood zone along it. That is a fact about maps and insurance, and it is not a statement about whether a particular house needs cover.
The state's 2020 watershed notes for the Region 1 flood risk presentation record the Red River's non-participation, and they are the source for this point. Read them as a statement about the program, not as an assessment of your property.
Whether a policy pays for river or storm water is set by its wording. Ask the insurer to explain the water sections of the policy, in writing, and keep the answer with your papers.
Where do the cleanup and the repair go from here?
Once the water is gone, the cleanup moves to drying, then to a repair that is planned from the readings. A repair that begins before the readings reach the dry goal can trap moisture behind new finishes.
Some repairs need a permit. The Bossier Parish and City of Bossier City permit offices answer repair-permit questions for their own jurisdictions. This guide has not checked their fees or permit types, so confirm the requirement before any wall is closed.
Keep the drying log, the photographs and the timeline together. Those records are what the insurer and any repair contractor will ask for first.
Ask the crew to tell you, at the end of the drying, which materials it kept, which it removed and why. That summary is the part of the record a future buyer, lender or repair contractor will ask about, and it is easier to have from the start than to rebuild later.
Frequently asked questions
What is flood stage for the Red River in Bossier City?
Local news coverage gives flood stage at Shreveport-Bossier as 30 feet, and major flood stage as 33 feet. Those are gauge readings on the river. They are not a measure of the water at any one house.
Was the 2015 flood the worst on record?
Local news coverage described the June 2015 crest of 37 feet as the highest local crest since the end of World War II. This guide does not compare it with other records, and it does not claim a longer history.
If the river is down, is my house dry?
Not necessarily. Water can remain in the ground, the walls and the subfloor after the river has fallen. Measure the house with a crew before you assume it is dry, and keep it under watch until the readings say otherwise.
Where do I find the current river level?
The National Weather Service office for Shreveport is the source for current levels and forecasts. This guide did not check them, so ask that office for the latest readings before you plan.
Does living near the river mean I need flood insurance?
This guide cannot say whether anyone needs cover. The maps show no designated flood zone along the Red River, which is a fact about the program. The decision belongs to you, the lender and the insurer, based on the policy wording.
Who should I call first if the river is still high?
Call the emergency services for your area if anyone is in danger. Call the drying crew once it is safe to do so. Calls to (833) 490-5225 are answered 24/7, and a crew is sent as soon as one is free. No arrival time is promised over the phone.
Does a river flood mean I must move out?
This guide cannot make that decision for you. A house that is unsafe, without power or water, or that has standing water in its structure may not be fit to live in during drying. Ask the crew whether the rooms you use are safe, and make the decision with that answer in hand.
This guide is general information for Bossier Parish homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.