Claiborne Parish, Louisiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 35.2 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 63.0 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 88.3 | $1M | ||
| Ice storm | 94.4 | $834K | ||
| Heat wave | 73.1 | $587K | ||
| Lightning | 84.0 | $498K | ||
| Hail | 71.9 | $340K | ||
| Hurricane | 69.5 | $316K | ||
| Earthquake | 48.8 | $144K | ||
| Drought | 47.2 | $68K | ||
| Cold wave | 11.3 | $53K | ||
| Wildfire | 28.6 | $7K | ||
| Winter weather | 11.4 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 46.0 | $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
Most recent
Show all 32
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1999 | F3 | Summerfield | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 3, 1999 | F3 | Athens | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 25, 1982 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 3, 1978 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 3, 1978 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Homer | $6M |
| Jan 12, 2005 | Tornado | Homer | $4M |
| Apr 3, 1999 | Tornado | Summerfield | $4M |
| May 7, 1978 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 3, 1999 | Tornado | Athens | $2M |
| Feb 12, 1950 | Tornado | – | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 1, 80 mph | 58 mi |
| Jun 27, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 58 mi |
| Oct 13, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 23, 1879 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 14, 1865 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 63 mi |
| Jul 6, 1891 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 60 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 1, 80 mph | 58 mi |
| Jul 14, 2019 | Barry | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 30, 2012 | Isaac | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 24, 2005 | Rita | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 10, 1965 | Betsy | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Jun 27, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 58 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Parish | 32 | |
| Union County, AR | 19 | |
| Webster Parish | 34 | |
| Columbia County, AR | 20 | |
| Union Parish | 34 | |
| Bienville Parish | 33 |
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.