Alexandria sits on the south bank of the Red River, close to the geographic center of Louisiana, and three bayous wind through town: Bayou Rapides, Bayou Robert and Hynson Bayou. The city averages about 61 inches of rain a year and sees thunderstorms on roughly 69 days, close to double the national figure. That is a lot of water to move through ditches and bayou channels on a level plain, and when a tropical system parks over Rapides Parish, low streets and the houses along them are the first to feel it.
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Twenty Inches of Gustav Rain on Rapides Parish
Hurricane Gustav came ashore on September 1, 2008, and spent the next few days soaking Central Louisiana. A National Weather Service gauge seven miles east of Alexandria recorded 20.43 inches between September 1 and 4, while the airport gauge caught 8.73 inches, a reminder that totals can vary widely across one parish. Radar estimated 15 to 25 inches over parts of Rapides and neighboring parishes. Several feet of water got into houses in low-lying neighborhoods, part of the Alexandria Mall roof collapsed, and power was lost to most of the water wells serving Alexandria and Pineville.
Hurricane Delta repeated the pattern in October 2020. It weakened to a tropical storm with its center just southeast of Alexandria early on October 10, and radar-based estimates put rainfall above 20 inches in parts of Rapides Parish. The NWS noted that storm debris clogging drainage ditches made the flooding worse, a detail worth remembering: clearing the ditch in front of your house before a storm arrives is one of the few things a homeowner can do to help water leave the street.
Laura's 91 mph Gust and the Leaks That Showed Up Later
Hurricane Laura made landfall at Cameron on August 27, 2020, and was still strong enough when it passed Central Louisiana to produce a 91 mph gust in Alexandria at 8:45 that morning. Fallen trees and wind damaged homes across Rapides Parish. Deaths in the parish came during cleanup and from heat after the power went out, which says something about the conditions people work in after a storm here.
Wind damage turns into water damage over the following days. A limb punctures the decking, shingles lift along a ridge, and the next round of afternoon storms pushes water into the attic. Insulation soaks it up and hides it until the ceiling sags. If you had tree or wind damage, have someone look in the attic as well as at the roof surface, and ask about storm damage cleanup that includes tarping and removal of wet insulation.
Older Buildings Downtown and in the Historic Districts
Union troops burned much of Alexandria in 1864, so the city's oldest buildings are survivors. Kent Plantation House, finished by 1800, is the oldest standing structure in Central Louisiana. Downtown holds the Hotel Bentley, opened in 1908, and the Rapides Bank Building from around 1898. The Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission oversees three local historic districts plus individual landmarks inside city limits.
Masonry, plaster and old-growth wood floors do not dry the way modern drywall does. They hold moisture longer and crack or cup if heat and airflow are pushed too hard. A careful drying plan relies on moisture readings, removes only what cannot be saved, and keeps records you can show an adjuster. If repairs will change anything on the outside of a building in a historic district, talk to the commission first.
Before Anyone Tears Out Drywall in Alexandria
- Shut off the water main for plumbing leaks, and keep power off in any room where water touches outlets or cords.
- Treat bayou or street floodwater as contaminated. Wear boots and gloves, and keep kids and pets out.
- Photograph the water line on walls and every damaged item before anything is moved.
- Pull rugs, furniture and boxes off wet floors.
- Call your insurer the same day. Rising water is covered only by a flood policy, not standard homeowners coverage.
- Ask the provider about flood cleanup steps, including how much drywall comes out and how drying will be measured.
Mold in a Wet, Hot Rapides Parish Summer
Alexandria's humid subtropical climate means warm, damp air most of the year, and after a hurricane the power can be out for days, which leaves no air conditioning to pull moisture from a closed house. Wet drywall, carpet pad and cabinet bottoms can grow visible mold quickly under those conditions. Running fans alone in a shut-up house tends to just move humid air around. Professional drying pairs air movers with dehumidifiers and checks readings daily. If growth has already spread behind walls, mold removal should involve containment and cutting out affected material, rather than painting or spraying over it.
Where Callers in the Alexandria Area Are
Calls come in from across Alexandria, including:
- Downtown Alexandria
- Cultural Arts District
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
- Pineville
- Ball
- Boyce
- Woodworth
Common Questions
Does living away from the Red River mean my Alexandria home won't flood?
Not necessarily. The worst recent flooding here came from rain, not the river. Gustav and Delta each dropped well over a foot of rain on parts of Rapides Parish, and water backed up from bayous and ditches into low neighborhoods. Check your address on the FEMA flood map and consider a flood policy even outside a mapped zone, since homeowners coverage excludes rising water.
The storm passed days ago. Why is my ceiling just now staining?
Water that enters through a damaged roof often soaks attic insulation first and travels along rafters before it reaches drywall. It can take several days and another rain to show up as a stain. Have the attic checked for wet insulation and decking, because hidden moisture there can lead to mold and rot even after the stain dries.
Who issues weather warnings for Alexandria?
The National Weather Service office in Lake Charles covers Rapides Parish and issues flash flood, tornado and tropical warnings. Statewide emergency updates come through GOHSEP, Louisiana's emergency preparedness office. Signing up for alerts and knowing your flood zone before hurricane season gives you more time to move valuables and vehicles.
Can water-damaged plaster in an older Alexandria building be saved?
Often it can, if it is dried steadily and has not been soaked by contaminated floodwater. Plaster on masonry is slower to dry than drywall, so readings matter more than appearance. A provider should explain what they plan to dry in place, what must be removed, and how they will track progress day by day.