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Claiborne Parish, Louisiana

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
45th of 64highest risk in Louisiana
$7Mexpected losses a year
32federal declarations
1 in 77homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Claiborne Parish, Louisiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 58% of US counties. It ranks 45th of 64 parishes in Louisiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $7.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $516 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 77 homes here carry federal flood insurance (81 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.8 million on 68 claims here, including $1.6 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 Claiborne Parish

$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow35.2
$2M
TornadoLow63.0
$1M
Strong windHigh88.3
$1M
Ice stormHigh94.4
$834K
Heat waveLow73.1
$587K
LightningHigh84.0
$498K
HailLow71.9
$340K
HurricaneLow69.5
$316K
EarthquakeVery Low48.8
$144K
DroughtLow47.2
$68K
Cold waveVery Low11.3
$53K
WildfireVery Low28.6
$7K
Winter weatherVery Low11.4
$5K
LandslideVery Low46.0
$585

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Claiborne Parish. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane16
Severe Storm5
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm3
Snowstorm2
Coastal Storm2

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 10, 2024Tropical Storm FrancineEmergency
Sep 13, 2021Tropical Storm NicholasEmergency
Aug 29, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2021Tropical Storm IdaEmergency
Mar 9, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 18, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 27, 2020Tropical Storm ZetaEmergency
Oct 16, 2020Hurricane DeltaMajor disaster
Oct 7, 2020Hurricane DeltaEmergency
Show all 32
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Aug 28, 2020Hurricane LauraMajor disaster
Aug 23, 2020Tropical Storms Laura and MarcoEmergency
Jun 7, 2020Tropical Storm CristobalEmergency
Mar 13, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
Dec 10, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2008Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jan 12, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Feb 15, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Apr 9, 1999Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1999Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
May 3, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 20, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency

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 419 storm reports in Claiborne Parish since 1950, with 6 deaths and 35 injuries and about $19.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1999 near Summerfield.

33tornadoes
134hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
214damaging thunderstorm winds
31floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1999F3Summerfield0 / 0
Apr 3, 1999F3Athens0 / 0
Apr 25, 1982F3–0 / 0
Dec 3, 1978F3–0 / 0
Dec 3, 1978F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 12, 2012Thunderstorm WindHomer$6M
Jan 12, 2005TornadoHomer$4M
Apr 3, 1999TornadoSummerfield$4M
May 7, 1978Tornado–$3M
Apr 3, 1999TornadoAthens$2M
Feb 12, 1950Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 24, 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 11 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Claiborne Parish, 6 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with top winds near 80 mph about 58 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
11tropical storms
2020most recent: Laura

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraCategory 1, 80 mph58 mi
Jun 27, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Oct 13, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph59 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Jul 6, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraCategory 1, 80 mph58 mi
Jul 14, 2019BarryTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Aug 30, 2012IsaacTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Jun 27, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 65 mph58 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 Claiborne Parish

Check your address flood zone ›
1.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (81 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.8 millionpaid on 68 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $1.6 million paid

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 Claiborne Parish

$82,100median home value (Louisiana $216,500, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Louisiana 1983, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
26.5%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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; 6,810 housing units.

Compare in Louisiana

All 64 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
East Baton Rouge ParishHighInland flooding
Jefferson ParishHighHurricane
Orleans ParishHighHurricane
St. Tammany ParishHighHurricane
Lafayette ParishHighHurricane
Caddo ParishModerateInland flooding
Calcasieu ParishHighHurricane
Ouachita ParishModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Lincoln ParishLow32
Union County, ARLow19
Webster ParishLow34
Columbia County, ARVery Low20
Union ParishLow34
Bienville ParishVery Low33

Common questions about Claiborne Parish

What is the biggest natural hazard in Claiborne Parish?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Claiborne Parish, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Claiborne Parish had?

Claiborne Parish has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Claiborne Parish a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 45th 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 Claiborne Parish?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 77 homes in Claiborne 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 Claiborne Parish had?

NOAA records list 33 tornadoes in Claiborne Parish since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1999 near Summerfield. The weather service has also logged 134 hail reports and 31 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Claiborne Parish?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 11 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Claiborne 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.