Claiborne Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 42th
Claiborne Parish faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 41.7, 42th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Claiborne Parish at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 41.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 42nd 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $834K in expected annual loss and about 1.65 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 5.33 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $498K in expected annual loss and about 65.31 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 14K.
Beyond physical exposure, Claiborne Parish has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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: Claiborne Parish has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 16 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, Claiborne Parish ranks #45 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | High | 1.65 / yr | $834K |
| Strong Wind | High | 5.33 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | High | 65.31 / yr | $498K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 20.26 / yr | $587K |
| Hail | Low | 4.68 / yr | $340K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $316K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.63 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $144K |
| Drought | Low | 28.80 / yr | $68K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.32 / yr | $585 |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.61 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.16 / yr | $5K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.63 / yr | $53K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Claiborne Parish has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (16), Severe Storm (5), Severe Ice 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 |
| March 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
Showing the 10 most recent of 34 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Claiborne Parish?
Claiborne Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 41.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 42th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Claiborne Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (High, $834K EAL), Strong Wind (High, $1M EAL), Lightning (High, $498K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Claiborne Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Claiborne Parish ranks #45 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Claiborne Parish had?
FEMA records 34 federal disaster declarations for Claiborne Parish since 1977, most often 16 for hurricane events and 5 for severe 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. Claiborne Parish's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.