Red River Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 17th
Red River Parish faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 16.7, 17th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Red River Parish at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 16.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 17th 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 strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $932K in expected annual loss and about 5.40 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $196K in expected annual loss and about 0.07 events per year; and ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $88K in expected annual loss and about 1.40 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 8K.
Beyond physical exposure, Red River Parish has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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.
The federal record bears this out: Red River Parish has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 17 for hurricane events and 3 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, Red River Parish ranks #60 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.40 / yr | $932K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.07 / yr | $196K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.40 / yr | $88K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 20.79 / yr | $320K |
| Drought | Low | 31.51 / yr | $128K |
| Hail | Low | 4.45 / yr | $144K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.36 / yr | $662K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $66K |
| Lightning | Low | 67.52 / yr | $62K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.75 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.68 / yr | $9K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.58 / yr | $56K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $16 |
| 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
Red River Parish has received 32 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (17), Flood (3), Winter Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 32 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Red River Parish?
Red River Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 16.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 17th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Red River Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (Medium, $932K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $196K EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $88K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Red River Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Red River Parish ranks #60 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Red River Parish had?
FEMA records 32 federal disaster declarations for Red River Parish since 1977, most often 17 for hurricane events and 3 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in February 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. Red River Parish's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.