Webster Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 70th
Webster Parish faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 69.5, 70th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $18M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Webster Parish carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 69.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 70th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.64 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 5.78 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 4.97 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $18M in expected annual loss for a population of 37K.
Beyond physical exposure, Webster 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.
History supports the rating: Webster Parish has received 37 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 15 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, Webster Parish ranks #33 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.64 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | High | 5.78 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Medium | 4.97 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 20.37 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.54 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $406K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $479K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.39 / yr | $7M |
| Lightning | Medium | 65.36 / yr | $232K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 2.79 / yr | $53K |
| Drought | Low | 26.30 / yr | $64K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $18K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $447 |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.68 / yr | $280K |
| 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
Webster Parish has received 37 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (15), Severe Storm (5), Flood (4).
| 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 37 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Webster Parish?
Webster Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 69.5 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 70th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Webster Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $2M EAL), Hail (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Webster Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Webster Parish ranks #33 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Webster Parish had?
FEMA records 37 federal disaster declarations for Webster Parish since 1977, most often 15 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm 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. Webster Parish's $18M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.