Acadia Parish, Louisiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Acadia Parish, Louisiana has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 89% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 64 parishes in Louisiana. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $51 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $882 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (23 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 11 homes here carry federal flood insurance (2,184 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $37 million on 1,481 claims here, including $22 million for floods in 2016.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Acadia Parish
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 96.7 | $22M | ||
| Inland flooding | 86.4 | $19M | ||
| Cold wave | 84.6 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 71.5 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 94.9 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 80.6 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 91.4 | $883K | ||
| Ice storm | 80.1 | $275K | ||
| Strong wind | 37.8 | $260K | ||
| Earthquake | 48.3 | $170K | ||
| Hail | 41.6 | $128K | ||
| Wildfire | 61.6 | $64K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 45.4 | $33K | ||
| Winter weather | 35.2 | $25K | ||
| Landslide | 13.8 | $36 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Acadia Parish. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 39
Louisiana also had 9 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1952
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 366 storm reports in Acadia Parish since 1952, with 7 deaths and 120 injuries and about $349 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 29, 1974.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 1974 | F3 | – | 40 / 2 |
| Nov 7, 1957 | F3 | – | 5 / 2 |
| May 17, 2020 | EF3 | Richard | 9 / 1 |
| Feb 9, 1983 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 4, 1952 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 2016 | Flood | Silverwood | $200M |
| Aug 12, 2016 | Flash Flood | Church Pt | $45M |
| Jan 10, 2013 | Flood | Silverwood | $40M |
| Oct 29, 1974 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Mar 5, 2011 | Tornado | Rayne | $15M |
| Sep 11, 1998 | Tornado | Midland | $5M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1856, 21 hurricanes and 21 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Acadia Parish, 20 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with top winds near 150 mph about 63 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 4, 150 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 10, 1856 | Unnamed | Category 3, 125 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 8, 1974 | Carmen | Category 3, 120 mph | 42 mi |
| Aug 6, 1918 | Unnamed | Category 3, 120 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 26, 1992 | Andrew | Category 2, 105 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 21, 1909 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 59 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2020 | Delta | Category 2, 100 mph | 53 mi |
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 4, 150 mph | 63 mi |
| Jul 13, 2019 | Barry | Category 1, 75 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 30, 2017 | Harvey | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 30, 2012 | Isaac | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 1, 2008 | Gustav | Category 1, 95 mph | 57 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Acadia Parish
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Acadia Parish
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 25,107 housing units.
Compare in Louisiana
All 64 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| East Baton Rouge Parish | Inland flooding | |
| Jefferson Parish | Hurricane | |
| Orleans Parish | Hurricane | |
| St. Tammany Parish | Hurricane | |
| Lafayette Parish | Hurricane | |
| Caddo Parish | Inland flooding | |
| Calcasieu Parish | Hurricane | |
| Ouachita Parish | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette Parish | 40 | |
| St. Landry Parish | 43 | |
| Vermilion Parish | 43 | |
| Evangeline Parish | 32 | |
| Jefferson Davis Parish | 40 |
Common questions about Acadia Parish
What is the biggest natural hazard in Acadia Parish?
Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Acadia Parish, about $21.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $19.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Acadia Parish had?
Acadia Parish has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 23 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Acadia Parish a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 15th highest of 64 in Louisiana. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Acadia Parish?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 11 homes in Acadia Parish has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Acadia Parish had?
NOAA records list 90 tornadoes in Acadia Parish since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 29, 1974. The weather service has also logged 64 hail reports and 35 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Acadia Parish?
NOAA's hurricane records show 21 hurricanes and 21 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Acadia Parish, including 4 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with winds near 150 mph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole parish, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.