LaSalle Parish, Louisiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
LaSalle Parish, Louisiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 63rd of 64 parishes in Louisiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $338 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 71 homes here carry federal flood insurance (69 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.4 million on 271 claims here, including $1.1 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 LaSalle 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 | 23.4 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 62.8 | $619K | ||
| Tornado | 30.8 | $499K | ||
| Hurricane | 65.0 | $334K | ||
| Strong wind | 32.9 | $307K | ||
| Cold wave | 22.4 | $248K | ||
| Lightning | 33.3 | $116K | ||
| Earthquake | 35.9 | $109K | ||
| Hail | 19.4 | $64K | ||
| Ice storm | 44.1 | $61K | ||
| Drought | 32.6 | $31K | ||
| Winter weather | 12.4 | $9K | ||
| Wildfire | 20.0 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 27.1 | $217 |
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 high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included LaSalle Parish. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 36
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 251 storm reports in LaSalle Parish since 1950, with 3 deaths and 43 injuries and about $38.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on December 3, 1953.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 3, 1953 | F4 | – | 15 / 2 |
| Nov 23, 2004 | F3 | Olla | 20 / 1 |
| May 19, 1983 | F3 | – | 5 / 0 |
| Apr 2, 2017 | EF2 | Rogers | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 23, 2000 | F2 | Jena | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 1983 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Nov 23, 2004 | Tornado | Olla | $5M |
| Dec 3, 1953 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 2, 2017 | Tornado | Rogers | $1M |
| Apr 23, 2000 | Tornado | Jena | $750K |
| Dec 9, 2008 | Tornado | Trout | $750K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 1, 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 1856, 3 hurricanes and 19 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of LaSalle Parish, 11 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with top winds near 90 mph about 65 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 1, 90 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 21, 1909 | Unnamed | Category 1, 90 mph | 52 mi |
| Jun 27, 1957 | Audrey | Category 1, 80 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 10, 1965 | Betsy | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 19, 1947 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 61 mi |
| Oct 10, 2020 | Delta | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 52 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2020 | Delta | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 1, 90 mph | 65 mi |
| Aug 30, 2012 | Isaac | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 2, 2008 | Gustav | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 13, 2007 | Humberto | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 3, 2002 | Lili | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 50 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 LaSalle 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 LaSalle 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; 6,202 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rapides Parish | 46 | |
| Avoyelles Parish | 39 | |
| Grant Parish | 34 | |
| Winn Parish | 30 | |
| Caldwell Parish | 36 | |
| Catahoula Parish | 43 |
Common questions about LaSalle Parish
What is the biggest natural hazard in LaSalle Parish?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in LaSalle Parish, about $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $618,785.
How many federal disasters has LaSalle Parish had?
LaSalle Parish has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is LaSalle Parish a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 63rd 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 LaSalle Parish?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in LaSalle 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 LaSalle Parish had?
NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in LaSalle Parish since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on December 3, 1953. The weather service has also logged 63 hail reports and 35 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit LaSalle Parish?
NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 19 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of LaSalle Parish. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with winds near 90 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.