Bossier Parish, Louisiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Bossier Parish, Louisiana has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 82% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 64 parishes in Louisiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $48 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $370 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 11 homes here carry federal flood insurance (4,142 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $26 million on 1,107 claims here, including $12 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 Bossier Parish
- 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 that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 74.0 | $15M | ||
| Heat wave | 97.9 | $14M | ||
| Tornado | 85.8 | $5M | ||
| Ice storm | 99.4 | $4M | ||
| Hail | 92.4 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 88.6 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 65.2 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 92.8 | $1M | ||
| Hurricane | 74.8 | $935K | ||
| Earthquake | 72.0 | $886K | ||
| Drought | 63.0 | $330K | ||
| Winter weather | 51.4 | $65K | ||
| Wildfire | 38.6 | $23K | ||
| Landslide | 43.8 | $849 |
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 relatively moderate 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 Bossier Parish. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 33
Louisiana also had 9 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 1,118 storm reports in Bossier Parish since 1950, with 28 deaths and 430 injuries and about $383 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on February 12, 1950.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 12, 1950 | F4 | – | 37 / 9 |
| Apr 3, 1999 | F4 | Bossier City | 90 / 7 |
| Dec 3, 1978 | F4 | – | 266 / 2 |
| Jan 22, 1957 | F3 | – | 9 / 3 |
| May 2, 1984 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 3, 1978 | Tornado | – | $250M |
| Apr 22, 1995 | Hail | Bossier City | $50M |
| May 2, 1984 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Mar 12, 2002 | Lightning | Barksdale AFB | $10M |
| Apr 3, 1999 | Tornado | Bossier City | $7M |
| Jun 1, 2015 | Flood | Ferry | $6M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 13, 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 1865, 1 hurricane and 12 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Bossier Parish, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with top winds near 80 mph about 57 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 1, 80 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 23, 1879 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 65 mi |
| Oct 13, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 55 mi |
| Jul 6, 1891 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 14, 1865 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 7, 1918 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 1, 80 mph | 57 mi |
| Jul 14, 2019 | Barry | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 60 mi |
| Jun 22, 2017 | Cindy | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 30, 2012 | Isaac | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 24, 2005 | Rita | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 20, 1947 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 61 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 Bossier 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 Bossier 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; 56,743 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Caddo Parish | 32 | |
| Miller County, AR | 19 | |
| Webster Parish | 34 | |
| Bienville Parish | 33 | |
| Red River Parish | 30 | |
| Lafayette County, AR | 19 |
Cities in Bossier Parish
Common questions about Bossier Parish
What is the biggest natural hazard in Bossier Parish?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Bossier Parish, about $15.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $13.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Bossier Parish had?
Bossier Parish has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Bossier Parish a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 23rd 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 Bossier Parish?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 11 homes in Bossier 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 Bossier Parish had?
NOAA records list 75 tornadoes in Bossier Parish since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on February 12, 1950. The weather service has also logged 399 hail reports and 155 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Bossier Parish?
NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 12 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Bossier Parish. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with winds near 80 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.