Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
Calcasieu Parish faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.7, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $164M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Calcasieu Parish is high, with a National Risk Index score of 95.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 96th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 80.82 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $71M in expected annual loss and about 0.14 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $11M in expected annual loss and about 0.87 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $164M in expected annual loss for a population of 217K.
Beyond physical exposure, Calcasieu Parish has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: Calcasieu Parish has received 42 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 23 for hurricane events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, Calcasieu Parish ranks #5 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 80.82 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.14 / yr | $71M |
| Tornado | High | 0.87 / yr | $11M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.43 / yr | $58M |
| Hail | Medium | 1.52 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.05 / yr | $7M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.43 / yr | $789K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 9.85 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Medium | 26.23 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.52 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.66 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $515K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $399 |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.00 / yr | $27K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Calcasieu Parish has received 42 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (23), Flood (7), Coastal Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Francine |
| September 2021 | Coastal Storm | Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Ida |
| June 2021 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| March 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
Showing the 10 most recent of 42 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Calcasieu Parish?
Calcasieu Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.7 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Calcasieu Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $4M EAL), Hurricane (Very High, $71M EAL), Tornado (High, $11M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Calcasieu Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Calcasieu Parish ranks #5 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Calcasieu Parish had?
FEMA records 42 federal disaster declarations for Calcasieu Parish since 1971, most often 23 for hurricane events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in January 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Calcasieu Parish's $164M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.