West Carroll Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 15th
West Carroll Parish faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 15.4, 15th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and ice storm 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 West Carroll Parish at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 15.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 15th 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 drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $969K in expected annual loss and about 19.95 events per year; ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $120K in expected annual loss and about 1.09 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $194K in expected annual loss and about 0.06 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 10K.
Beyond physical exposure, West Carroll 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: West Carroll Parish has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 16 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, West Carroll Parish ranks #61 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 19.95 / yr | $969K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.09 / yr | $120K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $194K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 19.37 / yr | $376K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $258K |
| Hail | Low | 3.37 / yr | $199K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.32 / yr | $646K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.11 / yr | $236K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.05 / yr | $280K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 65.64 / yr | $54K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.04 / yr | $833K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $10 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.89 / yr | $2K |
| 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
West Carroll Parish has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (16), 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 31 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for West Carroll Parish?
West Carroll Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 15.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 15th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in West Carroll Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $969K EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $120K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $194K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does West Carroll Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
West Carroll Parish ranks #61 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has West Carroll Parish had?
FEMA records 31 federal disaster declarations for West Carroll Parish since 1977, most often 16 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. West Carroll Parish's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.