Red River Parish, Louisiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Red River Parish, Louisiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 60th of 64 parishes in Louisiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $4.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $529 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 31 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $382,000 on 16 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Red River 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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 | 17.9 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 83.2 | $932K | ||
| Tornado | 45.1 | $662K | ||
| Heat wave | 57.0 | $320K | ||
| Hurricane | 64.0 | $196K | ||
| Hail | 46.7 | $144K | ||
| Drought | 54.8 | $128K | ||
| Ice storm | 60.9 | $88K | ||
| Earthquake | 34.4 | $66K | ||
| Lightning | 27.7 | $62K | ||
| Cold wave | 11.1 | $56K | ||
| Winter weather | 16.6 | $9K | ||
| Wildfire | 17.1 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 9.5 | $16 |
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 Red River Parish. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 30
Louisiana also had 9 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1963
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 323 storm reports in Red River Parish since 1963, with 1 death and 2 injuries and about $8.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 23, 2000 near Coushatta.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2000 | F3 | Coushatta | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 6, 2018 | EF2 | Magnolia | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 1967 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jan 20, 1973 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 10, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Coushatta | $6M |
| Oct 15, 2009 | Flood | Magnolia | $1M |
| Apr 23, 2000 | Tornado | Coushatta | $500K |
| Apr 6, 2018 | Tornado | Magnolia | $225K |
| Apr 26, 2011 | Tornado | Hall Summit | $150K |
| Apr 15, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Martin | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 20, 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 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Red River Parish, 7 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with top winds near 100 mph about 62 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 2, 100 mph | 62 mi |
| Jun 27, 1957 | Audrey | Category 1, 80 mph | 57 mi |
| Oct 13, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 23, 1879 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 54 mi |
| Sep 14, 1865 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 63 mi |
| Jul 6, 1891 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 64 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 2, 100 mph | 62 mi |
| Jul 14, 2019 | Barry | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
| Jun 22, 2017 | Cindy | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 54 mi |
| Aug 30, 2012 | Isaac | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 2, 2008 | Gustav | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 24, 2005 | Rita | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 65 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 Red River 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 Red River 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; 3,615 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Caddo Parish | 32 | |
| Bossier Parish | 33 | |
| Natchitoches Parish | 38 | |
| De Soto Parish | 30 | |
| Bienville Parish | 33 |
Common questions about Red River Parish
What is the biggest natural hazard in Red River Parish?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Red River Parish, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $932,251.
How many federal disasters has Red River Parish had?
Red River Parish has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.
Is Red River Parish a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 60th 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 Red River Parish?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Red River 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 Red River Parish had?
NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Red River Parish since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 23, 2000 near Coushatta. The weather service has also logged 87 hail reports and 36 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Red River Parish?
NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Red River Parish. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with winds near 100 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.