Cameron Parish, Louisiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Cameron Parish, Louisiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 50th of 64 parishes in Louisiana. The costliest hazards here are coastal flooding, hurricanes and lightning. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,882 per resident. Since 1971 it has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance (910 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $210 million on 3,470 claims here, including $105 million for floods in 2005.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Cameron Parish
- Learn your evacuation zone; it is set by surge risk, not by distance from the beach.
- Ask about flood insurance even outside a mapped high-risk zone.
- 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.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal flooding | 84.6 | $4M | ||
| Hurricane | 82.1 | $3M | ||
| Lightning | 94.3 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 5.9 | $841K | ||
| Wildfire | 86.5 | $815K | ||
| Tornado | 26.7 | $399K | ||
| Drought | 61.5 | $304K | ||
| Cold wave | 17.4 | $179K | ||
| Strong wind | 16.3 | $136K | ||
| Heat wave | 19.0 | $56K | ||
| Ice storm | 24.9 | $23K | ||
| Hail | 6.9 | $20K | ||
| Earthquake | 10.4 | $10K | ||
| Winter weather | 3.9 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 3.7 | $4 |
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 very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Cameron Parish. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 37
Louisiana also had 9 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 294 storm reports in Cameron Parish since 1955, with 6 deaths and 56 injuries and about $35.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 20, 1984.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 1984 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 20, 1983 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 11, 1970 | F2 | – | 2 / 1 |
| Oct 22, 1979 | F2 | – | 6 / 0 |
| Mar 20, 1972 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 2016 | Flood | Grand Chenier | $25M |
| Oct 22, 1979 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 20, 1984 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Feb 22, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cameron | $750K |
| Jan 10, 2013 | Flood | Grand Chenier | $650K |
| Apr 2, 2000 | Tornado | Hackberry | $300K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 27, 2025. 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 1863, 21 hurricanes and 21 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Cameron Parish, 25 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with top winds near 150 mph about 65 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 4, 150 mph | 65 mi |
| Jun 27, 1957 | Audrey | Category 3, 125 mph | 55 mi |
| Aug 6, 1918 | Unnamed | Category 3, 120 mph | 56 mi |
| Oct 12, 1886 | Unnamed | Category 3, 120 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 24, 2005 | Rita | Category 3, 115 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 8, 1974 | Carmen | Category 3, 115 mph | 64 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2020 | Delta | Category 2, 100 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 4, 150 mph | 65 mi |
| Jul 13, 2019 | Barry | Category 1, 75 mph | 65 mi |
| Aug 30, 2017 | Harvey | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Jun 22, 2017 | Cindy | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 5, 2008 | Edouard | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 62 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 Cameron 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 Cameron 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; 3,463 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, TX | 28 | |
| Calcasieu Parish | 39 | |
| Orange County, TX | 28 | |
| Vermilion Parish | 43 | |
| Jefferson Davis Parish | 40 |
Common questions about Cameron Parish
What is the biggest natural hazard in Cameron Parish?
Coastal flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cameron Parish, about $3.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $2.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Cameron Parish had?
Cameron Parish has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1971, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Cameron Parish a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 50th 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 Cameron Parish?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 3 homes in Cameron 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 Cameron Parish had?
NOAA records list 68 tornadoes in Cameron Parish since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 20, 1984. The weather service has also logged 52 hail reports and 12 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Cameron Parish?
NOAA's hurricane records show 21 hurricanes and 21 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Cameron Parish, including 6 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.