Cameron Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 34th
Cameron Parish faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 33.7, 34th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $11M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Cameron Parish carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 33.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 34th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. 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 High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 81.05 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $815K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; and coastal flood (seawater inundation from storm surge, high tides, and rising sea levels) at High risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 3.66 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $11M in expected annual loss for a population of 6K.
Beyond physical exposure, Cameron Parish has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: Cameron Parish has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 28 for hurricane events and 3 for coastal storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, Cameron Parish ranks #50 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | High | 81.05 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.01 / yr | $815K |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.66 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.16 / yr | $3M |
| Drought | Low | 27.48 / yr | $304K |
| Tornado | Low | 1.21 / yr | $399K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.43 / yr | $23K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 9.33 / yr | $56K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.99 / yr | $179K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.42 / yr | $136K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $10K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.10 / yr | $20K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $841K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.69 / yr | $3K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $4 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Cameron Parish has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (28), Coastal Storm (3), Severe Ice Storm (2).
| 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 |
| 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 |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
Showing the 10 most recent of 39 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cameron Parish?
Cameron Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 33.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 34th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Cameron Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (High, $2M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $815K EAL), Coastal Flood (High, $4M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Cameron Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Cameron Parish ranks #50 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Cameron Parish had?
FEMA records 39 federal disaster declarations for Cameron Parish since 1971, most often 28 for hurricane events and 3 for coastal storm 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. Cameron Parish's $11M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.