Washington Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 86th
Washington Parish faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 85.5, 86th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $35M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Washington Parish at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 85.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 86th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Washington Parish's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $17M in expected annual loss and about 0.18 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 16.44 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 13.54 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $35M in expected annual loss for a population of 45K.
Beyond physical exposure, Washington Parish has a very 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.
The federal record bears this out: Washington Parish has received 41 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 26 for hurricane events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, Washington Parish ranks #19 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.18 / yr | $17M |
| Drought | High | 16.44 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 13.54 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $249K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.71 / yr | $11M |
| Hail | Low | 2.78 / yr | $378K |
| Lightning | Medium | 81.38 / yr | $327K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.77 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.17 / yr | $587K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.81 / yr | $88K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.95 / yr | $740K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $215K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.26 / yr | $36K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.19 / yr | $392 |
| 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
Washington Parish has received 41 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (26), Flood (5), Coastal Storm (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Francine |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 41 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Washington Parish?
Washington Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 85.5 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 86th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Washington Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $17M EAL), Drought (High, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Washington Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Washington Parish ranks #19 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Washington Parish had?
FEMA records 41 federal disaster declarations for Washington Parish since 1965, most often 26 for hurricane events and 5 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. Washington Parish's $35M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.