Assumption Parish, Louisiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Assumption Parish, Louisiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 70% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 64 parishes in Louisiana. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $961 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 47 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (29 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 8 homes here carry federal flood insurance (995 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.1 million on 883 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Assumption 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 93.5 | $11M | ||
| Inland flooding | 29.6 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 96.5 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 67.4 | $2M | ||
| Coastal flooding | 78.0 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 50.3 | $675K | ||
| Heat wave | 66.9 | $554K | ||
| Lightning | 51.4 | $172K | ||
| Strong wind | 19.9 | $125K | ||
| Hail | 26.9 | $72K | ||
| Earthquake | 30.0 | $53K | ||
| Winter weather | 20.6 | $13K | ||
| Ice storm | 12.4 | $5K | ||
| Wildfire | 4.0 | $930 | ||
| Landslide | 14.4 | $40 |
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 moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Assumption Parish. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 47
Louisiana also had 9 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 88 storm reports in Assumption Parish since 1953, with 0 deaths and 10 injuries and about $5.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on February 23, 2016 near Westfield.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 23, 2016 | EF3 | Westfield | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 12, 1973 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Feb 15, 1987 | F2 | – | 4 / 0 |
| Oct 23, 1957 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 3, 1964 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2002 | Tornado | Napoleonville | $2M |
| Sep 22, 2011 | Lightning | Grand Bayou | $1M |
| Nov 27, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Napoleonville | $500K |
| Dec 8, 2009 | Flash Flood | Belle Rose | $500K |
| May 2, 1953 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Sep 12, 1973 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 9, 2024. 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, 29 hurricanes and 28 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Assumption Parish, 26 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1856, with top winds near 150 mph about 61 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 10, 1856 | Unnamed | Category 4, 150 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 29, 2021 | Ida | Category 4, 145 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 26, 1992 | Andrew | Category 4, 140 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 1, 1879 | Unnamed | Category 3, 125 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 10, 1965 | Betsy | Category 3, 125 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 8, 1974 | Carmen | Category 3, 120 mph | 56 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 11, 2024 | Francine | Category 2, 105 mph | 44 mi |
| Aug 29, 2021 | Ida | Category 4, 145 mph | 63 mi |
| Jun 19, 2021 | Claudette | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 58 mi |
| Oct 28, 2020 | Zeta | Category 3, 115 mph | 56 mi |
| Jun 8, 2020 | Cristobal | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 29, 2012 | Isaac | Category 1, 80 mph | 64 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 Assumption 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 Assumption 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; 10,066 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ascension Parish | 55 | |
| Terrebonne Parish | 50 | |
| Lafourche Parish | 51 | |
| Iberia Parish | 41 | |
| St. Martin Parish | 51 | |
| St. Mary Parish | 45 | |
| Iberville Parish | 45 | |
| St. James Parish | 41 |
Common questions about Assumption Parish
What is the biggest natural hazard in Assumption Parish?
Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Assumption Parish, about $10.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Assumption Parish had?
Assumption Parish has been included in 47 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 29 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Assumption Parish a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 32nd 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 Assumption Parish?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 8 homes in Assumption 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 Assumption Parish had?
NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Assumption Parish since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on February 23, 2016 near Westfield. The weather service has also logged 13 hail reports and 9 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Assumption Parish?
NOAA's hurricane records show 29 hurricanes and 28 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Assumption Parish, including 10 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1856, 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.