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Natural hazard risk in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Low (score 72.9 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$19.9 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1965
39[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$18.1 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
54[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index rates overall natural hazard risk in Avoyelles Parish as Relatively Low, with a score of 72.9 out of 100[5]. FEMA gives the highest hazard scores within the parish to drought, ice storm and hurricane[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards at $19.9 million a year[1]. FEMA lists the largest parts of that loss as hurricane, inland flooding and tornado, in that order[7]. Expected Annual Loss is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, and the index is not meant to predict damage in the next year[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability Very High, with a score of 97.9[9]. That rating describes how susceptible social groups are to harm from natural hazards[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience Relatively High, with a score of 63.0[10]. That rating describes a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
DroughtRelatively High$2.5 million[11]
Ice StormRelatively High$726,000[12]
HurricaneRelatively Moderate$4.8 million[13]
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$3.1 million[14]
TornadoRelatively Moderate$3.2 million[15]
LightningRelatively High$518,000[16]
Heat WaveRelatively Low$879,000[17]
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$406,000[18]
EarthquakeVery Low$192,000[19]
WildfireVery Low$28,000[20]
Inland FloodingRelatively Low$3.5 million[21]
HailRelatively Low$123,000[22]
LandslideVery Low$189[23]
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$18,000[24]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, tsunami, volcanic activity[25].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityVery High97.9[9]
Community resilienceRelatively High63.0[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Low in Avoyelles Parish, with a score of 44.5 out of 100[21]. OpenFEMA lists 752 residential flood insurance contracts in force, out of 16,257 residential structures, as of 2026-08-03[26]. OpenFEMA's NFIP claims data lists 1,652 claims for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $18.1 million in total[3]. A flood zone applies to a specific property, so use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center to look up an address[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[21] Relatively Low, $3.5 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 752 of 16,257 homes
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 1,652 filed, $18.1 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[27]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 39 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Avoyelles Parish since 1965[2]. Hurricane is the incident type with the most, at 21[2]. The most recent is DR-4927-LA for Tropical Storm Arthur, declared 2026-06-30[28]. NOAA's tornado database records 54 tornadoes in the parish from 1950 to 2024[4]. The most recent was on 2023-11-20[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Avoyelles Parish, since 1965
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 21
Flood[2] 7
Coastal Storm[2] 3
Severe Storm[2] 2
Severe Ice Storm[2] 2
Winter Storm[2] 1
Snowstorm[2] 1
Tornado[2] 1
Tropical Storm[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4927-LA[28] Tropical Storm Arthur 2026-06-30
EM-3638-LA[28] Severe Winter Storm 2026-01-24
EM-3614-LA[28] Tropical Storm Francine 2024-09-10
EM-3574-LA[28] Tropical Storm Nicholas 2021-09-13
DR-4611-LA[28] Hurricane Ida 2021-08-29

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Hurricanes

Before

  • Know your hurricane risk, including rain, wind and tornadoes far inland from landfall.
  • Learn your evacuation zone and routes, and practice them with your household and pets.
  • Keep insurance policies and ID current, with password-protected digital copies.
  • Clear drains and gutters, bring in outdoor furniture and consider hurricane shutters.
  • Keep your phone charged, buy backup chargers and gather supplies, including medication and pet supplies.

During

  • If you are in a mandatory evacuation zone and officials order an evacuation, leave right away.
  • For high winds, take shelter in a designated storm shelter or an interior room.
  • If you are trapped by flooding, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, hurricanes

Tornadoes

Before

  • Learn the warning signs: a rotating funnel cloud, an approaching cloud of debris or a loud roar like a freight train.
  • Sign up for community warning systems and learn what your local sirens sound like.
  • Pick a safe spot, such as a safe room built to FEMA criteria or an ICC 500 storm shelter, and practice getting there.
  • Include your pets in the household emergency plan.
  • Keep supplies, food, water and medication in case you have to stay home for a long time.

During

  • Go right away to the safe place you picked in advance.
  • Protect your head and neck with your arms and stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
  • No place in a car is fully safe. If you can get lower than the road, leave the car and lie down there.

Source: Ready.gov, tornadoes

Questions people ask

Is Avoyelles Parish at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties, with a score of 44.5[21]. FEMA says a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low[8].
Is Avoyelles Parish at risk of tornadoes?
FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties, with a score of 84.2[15]. NOAA's tornado database records 54 tornadoes in the parish from 1950 to 2024[4].
Is Avoyelles Parish at risk of earthquakes or wildfire?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Very Low[19]. FEMA also rates wildfire risk Very Low[20].
How many disasters were declared in Avoyelles Parish?
OpenFEMA lists 39 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include the parish since 1965[2].
How do I check a flood zone for an address?
FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps, and you can look up an address there[27]. You can also ask the local floodplain manager[27].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Avoyelles Parish is $19.9 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Low, score 60.0). Of this, buildings account for $8.6 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $7.8... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 39 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Avoyelles Parish since 1965 (21 major disaster, 18 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 21, flood 7, coastal storm 3, severe storm 2, severe ice storm 2, winter storm 1, snowstorm 1,... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 1,652 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Avoyelles Parish, 1,405 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $18.1 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 54 recorded tornadoes touched Avoyelles Parish. The strongest were rated F3 (most recent of them on 1983-05-20). 2 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2023-11-20. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Avoyelles Parish is Relatively Low, with a Risk Index score of 72.9 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Avoyelles Parish are drought (97.2, Relatively High), ice storm (92.0, Relatively High), hurricane (90.0, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Avoyelles Parish (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are hurricane ($4.8 million a year), inland flooding ($3.5 million a year), tornado ($3.2 million a year), out of $19.9 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Avoyelles Parish is Very High (score 97.9). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Avoyelles Parish is Relatively High (score 63.0). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 97.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.5 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 18.19 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 92.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $726,000 a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.89 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 90.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.8 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.13 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172... FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 84.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.1 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.21 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 84.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.2 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.71 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 82.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $518,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 76.45 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 78.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $879,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 11.42 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 55.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $406,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.43 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 52.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $192,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.001 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 49.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $28,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0004 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 44.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.5 million a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.86 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 26 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 42.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $123,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.83 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 29.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $189 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Avoyelles Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 28.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $18,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.95 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Avoyelles Parish: avalanche, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  26. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 752 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Avoyelles Parish, out of 16,257 residential structures, a penetration rate of 4.6%. OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  27. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  28. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.