Jackson Parish, Louisiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Jackson Parish, Louisiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 57th of 64 parishes in Louisiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $5.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $376 per resident. Since 1989 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 29 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $101,000 on 20 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Jackson 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 27.6 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 62.6 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 71.0 | $616K | ||
| Strong wind | 67.5 | $586K | ||
| Ice storm | 85.4 | $401K | ||
| Hurricane | 65.4 | $236K | ||
| Earthquake | 48.2 | $162K | ||
| Lightning | 45.2 | $127K | ||
| Hail | 33.7 | $89K | ||
| Cold wave | 11.1 | $58K | ||
| Winter weather | 25.7 | $16K | ||
| Wildfire | 30.5 | $9K | ||
| Landslide | 30.7 | $214 |
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 low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Jackson Parish. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 25
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 345 storm reports in Jackson Parish since 1953, with 5 deaths and 56 injuries and about $7.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on September 12, 1961.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 1961 | F3 | – | 37 / 5 |
| Jan 2, 2023 | EF2 | Wyatt | 3 / 0 |
| May 16, 1953 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Mar 18, 1986 | F2 | – | 2 / 0 |
| Nov 7, 1986 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2019 | Tornado | Weston | $1M |
| Jan 2, 2023 | Tornado | Wyatt | $850K |
| Mar 8, 2016 | Flash Flood | Clay | $560K |
| Mar 30, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Weston | $500K |
| Apr 9, 2009 | Tornado | Vernon | $500K |
| Mar 24, 2009 | Tornado | Jonesboro | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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, 2 hurricanes and 14 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Jackson Parish, 10 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with top winds near 85 mph about 53 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 1, 85 mph | 53 mi |
| Sep 21, 1909 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 58 mi |
| Jun 27, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 10, 1965 | Betsy | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 60 mi |
| Oct 13, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 10, 2020 | Delta | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 58 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2020 | Delta | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 1, 85 mph | 53 mi |
| Jul 14, 2019 | Barry | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 30, 2012 | Isaac | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 2, 2008 | Gustav | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 65 mi |
| Oct 3, 2002 | Lili | Tropical storm, 55 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 Jackson 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 Jackson 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; 7,230 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ouachita Parish | 41 | |
| Lincoln Parish | 32 | |
| Winn Parish | 30 | |
| Bienville Parish | 33 | |
| Caldwell Parish | 36 |
Common questions about Jackson Parish
What is the biggest natural hazard in Jackson Parish?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Jackson Parish, about $2.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Jackson Parish had?
Jackson Parish has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1989, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.
Is Jackson Parish a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 57th 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 Jackson Parish?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Jackson 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 Jackson Parish had?
NOAA records list 42 tornadoes in Jackson Parish since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on September 12, 1961. The weather service has also logged 110 hail reports and 20 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Jackson Parish?
NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 14 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Jackson Parish. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with winds near 85 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.