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Louisiana Environment & Hazard Risk

7 parishes rated high or very high risk. 25,598 storm events since 1996, #32 among states.

Expected yearly loss
$3.35B
$720 per person
Storm events since 1996
25,598
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
359,013
$20.98B in claims paid
Superfund sites
29
395 toxic release facilities

Risk by parish

FEMA National Risk Index rating, highest risk first

ParishOverall riskTop hazardFlood policiesFlood claims paid
Jefferson ParishHighHurricane75,564$3.59B
Orleans ParishHighHurricane56,109$7.3B
East Baton Rouge ParishHighTornado35,986$1.31B
St. Tammany ParishHighHurricane37,387$1.78B
Calcasieu ParishHighLightning11,641$324M
Lafayette ParishHighLightning16,022$267M
Livingston ParishHighHurricane13,708$835M
Terrebonne ParishModerateHurricane10,803$327M
Tangipahoa ParishModerateHurricane6,827$178M
Caddo ParishModerateIce storm4,088$41.96M
Ascension ParishModerateHurricane13,203$354M
Lafourche ParishModerateHurricane7,963$104M
Iberia ParishModerateHurricane2,827$88.87M
St. Mary ParishModerateHurricane2,543$37.26M
Acadia ParishModerateHurricane2,184$36.99M
St. Landry ParishModerateDrought2,223$22.22M
Ouachita ParishModerateIce storm4,265$163M
St. Martin ParishModerateHurricane2,157$28.23M
Washington ParishModerateHurricane498$15.59M
St. Charles ParishModerateHurricane9,907$161M
Vermilion ParishModerateDrought4,149$187M
Rapides ParishModerateLightning2,688$68.3M
Bossier ParishModerateIce storm4,142$26.12M
St. John the Baptist ParishModerateHurricane5,448$655M
Evangeline ParishLowCold wave472$6.41M
St. Bernard ParishLowHurricane8,351$2.25B
Jefferson Davis ParishLowDrought862$6.24M
Iberville ParishLowHurricane1,160$13.79M
Avoyelles ParishLowDrought752$18.06M
Plaquemines ParishLowHurricane3,808$382M
St. James ParishLowHurricane1,023$7.52M
Assumption ParishLowDrought995$5.15M
Webster ParishLowIce storm112$7.19M
Vernon ParishLowHurricane248$9.4M
Lincoln ParishLowIce storm100$594K
Pointe Coupee ParishLowCold wave1,229$26.04M
Sabine ParishLowStrong wind96$698K
East Feliciana ParishLowHurricane129$3.17M
Natchitoches ParishLowStrong wind540$9.86M
Beauregard ParishLowLightning291$8.8M
Morehouse ParishLowIce storm155$6.87M
Allen ParishLowHurricane292$9.46M
Union ParishLowIce storm256$9.02M
De Soto ParishVery LowStrong wind63$827K
Claiborne ParishVery LowIce storm81$1.84M
Richland ParishVery LowDrought460$11.07M
St. Helena ParishVery LowDrought73$2.59M
Franklin ParishVery LowDrought255$5.45M
West Feliciana ParishVery LowHurricane88$4.33M
Cameron ParishVery LowLightning910$210M
Madison ParishVery LowDrought242$2.68M
West Baton Rouge ParishVery LowHurricane1,228$7.44M
Concordia ParishVery LowDrought693$11.71M
Grant ParishVery LowHeat wave152$5.31M
Winn ParishVery LowHeat wave40$2.37M
Bienville ParishVery LowIce storm7$486K
Jackson ParishVery LowIce storm29$101K
East Carroll ParishVery LowDrought138$2.01M
Catahoula ParishVery LowDrought564$14.71M
Red River ParishVery LowStrong wind31$382K
West Carroll ParishVery LowDrought83$1.77M
Tensas ParishVery LowDrought262$2.91M
LaSalle ParishVery LowHurricane69$3.42M
Caldwell ParishVery LowHurricane342$5.29M

Costliest hazards

Expected annual loss in Louisiana, all parishes combined

  • Hurricane$1.55B/yr · 24 parishes high
  • Tornado$247M/yr · 10 parishes high
  • Cold wave$185M/yr · 12 parishes high
  • Heat wave$140M/yr · 6 parishes high
  • Coastal flooding$74.24M/yr · 10 parishes high
  • Drought$52.84M/yr · 14 parishes high
  • Lightning$49.17M/yr · 27 parishes high
  • Strong wind$42.84M/yr · 11 parishes high
  • Ice storm$33.42M/yr · 18 parishes high
  • Hail$32.32M/yr · 3 parishes high

Storm events by type

Since 1996: 1,189 deaths, $96.84B in property and crop damage

  • Thunderstorm Wind8,675 · 28 deaths
  • Hail4,179
  • Flash Flood2,871 · 28 deaths
  • Tornado1,553 · 46 deaths
  • Drought1,423
  • Excessive Heat1,311 · 19 deaths
  • Heat1,233 · 49 deaths
  • Tropical Storm531 · 6 deaths
  • Winter Weather458 · 4 deaths
  • Lightning438 · 39 deaths
  • Flood405 · 11 deaths
  • Hurricane (Typhoon)335 · 877 deaths

Events per year

Storm events per year in Louisiana

Most damaging storms

Since 2017, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage

  • Hurricane (Typhoon)08/26/2020

    Calcasieu

    13 deaths, $6B damage

    What happened

    There was a mandatory evacuation for the parish. Numerous trees, power lines, transmission lines, and poles were blown down across the parish. All of the parish was without power immediately after the storm. Homes and businesses were damage from trees falling on them, or from the winds. Low-lying areas near downtown Lake Charles flooded from high water due to rainfall. A male of unknown age drowned in a sinking shrimp boat. Twelve persons died in recovery (indirect deaths) from carbon monoxide poisoning, including five in one family in the city of Lake Charles. Other indirect deaths occurred from smoke inhalation, from a head injury after falling off a roof, falling off scaffolding in a refinery, and accident of a tree service vehicle. Wind gusts ranged from 110 to 145 mph across the parish. Storm surge reached 4.65 MHHW at Lake Charles.

  • Hurricane (Typhoon)08/27/2020

    Beauregard

    2 deaths, $1B damage

    What happened

    There was a voluntary evacuation for the parish. Numerous trees power lines and power poles were blown down across the parish. Homes and businesses were damaged from fallen trees or from wind. All of the parish was without power immediately after the storm. Two indirect deaths due to heat related stress. Wind gusts ranged from 110 to 130 mph.

  • Hurricane (Typhoon)10/09/2020

    Calcasieu

    $1B damage

    What happened

    Heavy rain and high winds affected Calcasieu Parish as Delta moved across the region. Debris from Hurricane Laura slowed runoff from the 10 to 18 inches of rainfall causing flooding. White Oak Park experienced the 5th highest river reading on record. Many structures also had temporary roofs or tarps that were removed during the hurricane from the near 100 mph wind gusts causing more damage. Power was also knocked back out for most of the parish.

  • Hurricane (Typhoon)08/29/2021

    Lower Jefferson

    $1B damage

    What happened

    Ida���s inner eyewall moved across the far western end of Grand Isle with estimated winds of around 155mph. Every structure on the island suffered damage, and 40-50% of the structures on the island were completely destroyed, especially on the western end of the island.

  • Hurricane (Typhoon)08/27/2020

    Vernon

    1 death, $900M damage

    What happened

    Numerous trees power lines and poles were blown down across the parish. Homes and businesses were damaged from fallen trees, or from the winds. All of the parish was without power immediately after the storm. A 14-year-old female died from a fallen tree. Wind gusts ranged from 100 to 120 mph.

  • Hurricane (Typhoon)08/26/2020

    Jefferson Davis

    $800M damage

    What happened

    There was a voluntary evacuation from the parish. Numerous trees and power lines and poles were blown down across the parish. Homes and businesses were damaged from fallen trees or from wind. All of the parish was without power immediately after the storm. Wind gusts ranged from 80 to 120 mph.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

52 hurricane landfalls since 1851, 19 of them major (Category 3+)

Flood insurance

National Flood Insurance Program policies and claims

359,013 homes in Louisiana have flood insurance, about 22.0% of residential buildings. In high-risk flood zones, 182,555 of 249,660 homes (73%) are insured.

Flood claims paid per year in Louisiana
  • Hurricane Katrina$13.35B · 176,249 claims
  • Mid-summer severe storms$2.53B · 29,980 claims
  • Flooding$1.13B · 111,893 claims
  • Hurricane Ida$691M · 14,647 claims
  • Hurricane Isaac$513M · 13,297 claims
  • Hurricane Rita$413M · 10,792 claims

Drinking water

898 community water systems serve about 5,248,290 people

Since 2021, 472 systems reported 3,309 health-based violations. 306 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report. These had the most:

Select a parish above to see every system that serves it.

Climate in the largest cities

1991-2020 normals from the nearest NOAA weather station

CityJuly highJan lowRainSnow
New Orleans91°F47°F60.1 in0.1 in
Baton Rouge92°F42°F61.9 in0.2 in
Shreveport94°F37°F51.4 in0.9 in
Metairie91°F46°F63.3 in-
Lafayette91°F41°F64.7 in-
Lake Charles92°F43°F59.7 in-
Bossier City95°F39°F48.9 in-
Monroe93°F37°F55.1 in-

Pollution sites

29 Superfund sites and 395 toxic release facilities

Superfund sites

All 29 in Louisiana

Largest toxic releases

All 395 in Louisiana

Facilities in Louisiana reported 127.3 million lbs of toxic releases in 2024, 53.2 million lbs of it into the air.

Frequently asked questions

What is the biggest natural hazard in Louisiana?
By expected annual loss, hurricane costs the most in Louisiana ($1.55B a year), according to FEMA's National Risk Index.
How many storms hit Louisiana each year?
NOAA recorded 25,598 storm events in Louisiana since 1996, about 826 a year. The most common type is thunderstorm wind.
How many hurricanes have hit Louisiana?
Louisiana has had 52 hurricane landfalls since 1851, including 19 major hurricanes of Category 3 or stronger.
How many homes in Louisiana have flood insurance?
359,013 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Louisiana. Since 1978 the National Flood Insurance Program has paid $20.98B on 481,242 claims here.
How many Superfund sites are in Louisiana?
Louisiana has 29 Superfund sites on or deleted from EPA's National Priorities List.

Source: FEMA, NOAA, EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch each county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.