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Union Parish, Louisiana

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

Relatively Low overall risk
43rd of 64highest risk in Louisiana
$11Mexpected losses a year
34federal declarations
1 in 37homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Union Parish, Louisiana has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 50% of US counties. It ranks 43rd of 64 parishes in Louisiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $505 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 37 homes here carry federal flood insurance (256 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $9.0 million on 380 claims here, including $6.5 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 Union Parish

$5.6 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.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow57.8
$6M
TornadoLow64.6
$1M
Strong windHigh89.5
$1M
Heat waveLow76.8
$847K
Ice stormHigh90.0
$625K
HurricaneLow64.3
$216K
EarthquakeVery Low52.7
$209K
HailLow49.5
$169K
Cold waveVery Low18.8
$135K
LightningLow39.0
$102K
DroughtLow42.0
$54K
WildfireVery Low44.9
$23K
Winter weatherVery Low14.5
$8K
LandslideVery Low60.8
$2K

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 Union Parish. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane17
Severe Storm5
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm3
Snowstorm2
Coastal 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 34
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
Dec 10, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2008Hurricane IkeMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2008Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Jan 12, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Feb 15, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1999Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
May 3, 1991Severe Storms, Tornadoes & 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 630 storm reports in Union Parish since 1953, with 3 deaths and 48 injuries and about $22.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on November 19, 1983.

57tornadoes
191hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
333damaging thunderstorm winds
45floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 19, 1983F3–0 / 0
Dec 13, 2022EF3Bayou D Arbonne Lake14 / 0
Dec 3, 1978F3–1 / 0
Dec 3, 1978F3–0 / 0
May 7, 1978F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 25, 2019TornadoBayou D Arbonne Lake$5M
May 7, 1978Tornado–$3M
Nov 19, 1983Tornado–$3M
Oct 12, 2009FloodConway$2M
Oct 30, 2009FloodConway$2M
Dec 13, 2022TornadoBayou D Arbonne Lake$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Union Parish, 8 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with top winds near 75 mph about 55 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
2020most recent: Delta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraCategory 1, 75 mph55 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph58 mi
Jun 27, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 60 mph58 mi
Oct 13, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi
Sep 22, 1920UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 10, 2020DeltaTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 27, 2020LauraCategory 1, 75 mph55 mi
Aug 30, 2012IsaacTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Oct 4, 2002LiliTropical storm, 45 mph51 mi
Sep 3, 1985ElenaTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Aug 16, 1985DannyTropical storm, 45 mph61 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 Union Parish

Check your address flood zone ›
2.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (256 policies)
34.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$9 millionpaid on 380 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $6.5 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 Union Parish

$112,500median home value (Louisiana $216,500, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Louisiana 1983, US 1980)
39%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
34.7%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; 10,431 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
Lincoln ParishLow32
Union County, ARLow19
Morehouse ParishLow32
Ashley County, ARLow13
Claiborne ParishVery Low32

Common questions about Union Parish

What is the biggest natural hazard in Union Parish?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Union Parish, about $5.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Union Parish had?

Union Parish has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.

Is Union Parish a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 43rd 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 Union Parish?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 37 homes in Union 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 Union Parish had?

NOAA records list 57 tornadoes in Union Parish since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on November 19, 1983. The weather service has also logged 191 hail reports and 45 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Union Parish?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Union Parish. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with winds near 75 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.