Richland Parish, LA Environment & Hazard Risk
Very Low natural hazard risk, led by drought. 344 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $7.54M
- Very Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 344
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 460
- 5.9% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 1
- 4 tropical storms or stronger since 1898
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Very Low
Score 36.7 of 100
Social vulnerability
Very High
Score 94.8 of 100
Community resilience
Relatively High
Score 63.8 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $4.01B · Agriculture value exposed: $96.21M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $12.12M
Risk by hazard
- DroughtRelatively Moderate$447K/yr expected annual loss, about 25 events a year
- Heat waveRelatively Low$715K/yr expected annual loss, about 19 events a year
- Ice stormRelatively Moderate$177K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.0 events a year
- Strong windRelatively Moderate$685K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.4 events a year
- TornadoRelatively Moderate$1.74M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- HailRelatively Low$318K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.3 events a year
- HurricaneRelatively Low$265K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 18 years
- EarthquakeRelatively Low$324K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 520 years
- Cold waveRelatively Low$466K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
- LightningRelatively Low$58.1K/yr expected annual loss, about 68 events a year
- WildfireVery Low$6,654/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3,768 years
- LandslideVery Low$53/yr expected annual loss, about once every 10 years
- Winter weatherVery Low$4,656/yr expected annual loss, about 2.2 events a year
Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 460 of 7,858 (5.9%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 1,112
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 307 (28%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 473
- Claims paid since 1978
- $11.07M
Flood claims paid per year
- Late winter severe storms$4.04M · 90 claims
- Hurricane Gustav$2.1M · 58 claims
- Hurricane Delta$1.47M · 39 claims
- Flooding$767K · 70 claims
- Spring storm$147K · 6 claims
- Hurricane Ike$28.8K · 1 claim
Storm history
Since 1996: 344 events, 1 death, $74.73M in damage
- Thunderstorm Wind148 · 1 death
- Hail75
- Flash Flood45
- Tornado21
- Drought17
- Ice Storm8
- Tropical Storm4
- Heavy Snow4
- Strong Wind3
- Flood3
Events per year
40 tornadoes on record (EF0 6, EF1 12, F0 5, F1 9, F2 5, F3 3).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Flash Flood09/03/2008
Mangham, Richland Parish
$41M damage
What happened
Heavy rainfall fell across all of Richland Parish as persistent rain bands continued to impact the area from weakening Hurricane Gustav. Rainfall amounts between 8 and 15 inches fell across the parish, mostly during the evening of the 2nd and early morning of the 3rd.||Numerous roads were flooded with some washed out. Some homes were also flooded across the parish as multiple rounds of heavy rain impacted the area.||Agriculture was extremely hard hit as farmland was flooded and crops became water logged. Many areas saw total loss of some crops while other areas experienced very low yields. Cotton, soybeans and sweet potatoes were some of the hardest hit crops.
- Flash Flood10/16/2006
Archibald, Richland Parish
$10.2M damage
What happened
Tremendous amounts of rain fell across Richland Parish during the afternoon and evening of October 16th. Eight to fifteen inches of rain fell during this time causing significant flooding across the parish. Dozens of homes were flooded along with a large majority of the roads across the parish. Many roads had sections washed out and were impassable. Locals who have lived in the area all their life mentioned they have never seen water like that before.
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind12/25/2012
Cuthbert, Richland Parish
1 death, $25K damage
What happened
A tree fell on a mobile home west of Epps along LA Highway 134, fatally injuring one man inside. Additional trees were also blown down in the area.
- Hurricane (Typhoon)08/29/2005
Richland
$5.2M damage
What happened
See detailed narrative in Central Mississippi section.
- TornadoEF1, 4.05 mi path, 650 yd wide03/28/2018
New Light, Richland Parish
4 injured, $200K damage
What happened
This tornado began around the intersection of Bill Taylor Road and Augustus Road. The tornado was videoed as it continued east northeast across a field north of Bill Taylor Road, where it overturned an irrigation pivot. The tornado then crossed Middle Road, flipping a mobile home on its side and atop a vehicle. Four occupants of the mobile home sustained minor injuries. Numerous trees were snapped at this location as well. The tornado reached its widest point as it continued eastward across Newlight Road, causing minor damage to two mobile homes and a shed, and damaging the roof of another house. The tornado then crossed Big Creek into Franklin Parish, and ended as it crossed US Highway 425 just north of Baskin. Here, trees were damaged and a home sustained minor damage. The maximum estimated wind speed of the entire path was 105mph.
- Tropical Storm09/01/2008
Richland
$1M damage
What happened
Tropical storm force winds occurred across Richland Parish as the outer edges of Hurricane Gustav moved across southern and central Louisiana. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Tree damage was widespread across the parish as wind gusts peaked between 40 and 50 mph for several hours. Many roads were blocked by downed trees and the power outages were extensive.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Drought06/01/2026
Richland
- Flash Flood05/23/2026
Delhi, Richland Parish
- Drought05/01/2026
Richland
- Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind04/26/2026
Rayville Muni Arpt, Richland Parish
- Hail1" hail03/07/2026
Start, Richland Parish
- Extreme Cold/Wind Chill01/26/2026
Richland
- Ice Storm01/24/2026
Richland
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind10/19/2025
Bee Bayou, Richland Parish
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Storms whose track crossed Richland Parish, with the wind when it passed
- Hurricane Lili (2002)09/22/2002 · Landfall: LA · 938 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
- Hurricane Danny (1985)08/12/1985 · Landfall: LA · 987 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1909)09/13/1909 · Landfall: LA · 952 mbCategory 186 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1898)09/12/1898 · Landfall: LATropical storm40 mph nearby
Drinking water
10 community water systems serve about 24,717 people. Violations since 2021.
3 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 3 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- Town of Rayville Water SystemServes 4,842 · Groundwater · Local government9 health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
- Archibald Water SystemServes 4,200 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
- Town of Delhi Water SupplyServes 4,071 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
- River Road Water SystemServes 3,513 · Groundwater · Private12 health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
- East Richland Ww DistrictServes 3,120 · Purchased groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
- Start Water SystemServes 2,514 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
- Holly Ridge Lodge Water SystemServes 1,350 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
- Village of Mangham Water SystemServes 927 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Rayville, 5.9 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 94°F in Aug and winter lows bottom out near 38°F in Jan. About 60.0 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 0.7 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 38°F | 5.54 in | 0.3 in |
| Feb | 62°F | 41°F | 5.11 in | 0.4 in |
| Mar | 70°F | 48°F | 5.65 in | - |
| Apr | 78°F | 56°F | 6.70 in | - |
| May | 84°F | 64°F | 5.25 in | - |
| Jun | 90°F | 71°F | 4.75 in | - |
| Jul | 93°F | 74°F | 4.16 in | - |
| Aug | 94°F | 74°F | 3.88 in | - |
| Sep | 89°F | 67°F | 3.82 in | - |
| Oct | 80°F | 56°F | 4.63 in | - |
| Nov | 68°F | 46°F | 4.73 in | - |
| Dec | 60°F | 40°F | 5.78 in | - |
| Year | 67°F average | 60.0 in | 0.7 in | |
Pollution sites
0 Superfund sites and 1 toxic release facility in Richland Parish
Superfund sites
None in this parish.
Toxic release facilities
- Hydro Extrusion USA LLC2,370 lbs released, Delhi
Total: 2,370 lbs in 2024, 250 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk9 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Richland Parish for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Richland Parish very low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $7.54M a year. The highest-rated hazards are drought (relatively moderate), heat wave (relatively low), ice storm (relatively moderate).
- What storms are most common in Richland Parish?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 344 storm events affecting Richland Parish, most often thunderstorm wind (148), hail (75), flash flood (45).
- How many tornadoes have hit Richland Parish?
- 40 tornadoes have been recorded in Richland Parish since 1950, including 3 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
- How many homes in Richland Parish have flood insurance?
- 460 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Richland Parish, covering about 5.9% of homes. The program has paid $11.07M on 473 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Richland Parish?
- At Rayville, average highs reach 94°F in Aug and lows fall to 38°F in Jan, with 60.0 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.