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Morehouse Parish, Louisiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
41st of 64highest risk in Louisiana
$11Mexpected losses a year
32federal declarations
1 in 71homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Morehouse Parish, Louisiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 55% of US counties. It ranks 41st of 64 parishes in Louisiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $439 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 71 homes here carry federal flood insurance (155 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.9 million on 239 claims here, including $4.8 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 Morehouse Parish

$5.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.5 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$907,040 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 19 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow59.4
$5M
TornadoModerate68.4
$1M
Heat waveModerate79.6
$907K
EarthquakeLow74.5
$674K
Strong windModerate71.9
$627K
Cold waveLow44.6
$474K
HailModerate77.2
$461K
DroughtModerate72.7
$371K
Ice stormHigh83.8
$337K
HurricaneLow68.2
$310K
LightningLow50.3
$144K
WildfireVery Low48.3
$26K
Winter weatherVery Low15.8
$8K
LandslideVery Low26.7
$139

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane17
Flood4
Severe Storm4
Coastal Storm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Winter Storm2

Most recent

Feb 18, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
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
Show all 32
Oct 7, 2020Hurricane DeltaEmergency
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Aug 28, 2020Hurricane LauraMajor disaster
Aug 23, 2020Tropical Storms Laura and MarcoEmergency
Jun 7, 2020Tropical Storm CristobalEmergency
Jun 3, 2019Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 13, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2012Tropical Storm IsaacEmergency
Sep 2, 2008Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Nov 2, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jan 21, 1999Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
May 3, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 20, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 1983Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency

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 517 storm reports in Morehouse Parish since 1953, with 4 deaths and 42 injuries and about $64.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 1, 1983.

48tornadoes
153hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
264damaging thunderstorm winds
52floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 1, 1983F4–20 / 2
Nov 27, 1968F3–0 / 0
Dec 3, 1973F2–0 / 0
Apr 25, 2019EF2Duty0 / 0
Apr 20, 1995F2Bastrop3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 3, 2008Flash FloodBastrop$38M
Apr 1, 1983Tornado–$3M
Nov 20, 1973Tornado–$3M
Dec 3, 1973Tornado–$3M
Oct 16, 2006Flash FloodOak Ridge$2M
May 3, 2007Thunderstorm WindBastrop$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 23, 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 1888, 1 hurricane and 14 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Morehouse Parish, 8 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1909, with top winds near 80 mph about 57 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
14tropical storms
2020most recent: Delta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph57 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 10, 2020DeltaTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Aug 30, 2012IsaacTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Oct 4, 2002LiliTropical storm, 45 mph46 mi
Sep 2, 1985ElenaTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Aug 16, 1985DannyTropical storm, 45 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 Morehouse Parish

Check your address flood zone ›
1.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (155 policies)
14.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.9 millionpaid on 239 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $4.8 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 Morehouse Parish

$118,800median home value (Louisiana $216,500, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Louisiana 1983, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.2%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; 11,898 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
Ouachita ParishModerate41
Union County, ARLow19
Union ParishLow34
Richland ParishVery Low34
Ashley County, ARLow13
Chicot County, ARLow16
West Carroll ParishVery Low29

Common questions about Morehouse Parish

What is the biggest natural hazard in Morehouse Parish?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Morehouse Parish, about $5.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Morehouse Parish had?

Morehouse Parish has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Morehouse Parish a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 41st 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 Morehouse Parish?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in Morehouse 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 Morehouse Parish had?

NOAA records list 48 tornadoes in Morehouse Parish since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 1, 1983. The weather service has also logged 153 hail reports and 52 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Morehouse Parish?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 14 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Morehouse Parish. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1909, 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.