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West Carroll Parish, Louisiana

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

Very Low overall risk
61st of 64highest risk in Louisiana
$4Mexpected losses a year
29federal declarations
1 in 56homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

West Carroll Parish, Louisiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 85% of US counties. It ranks 61st of 64 parishes in Louisiana. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $4.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $429 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 56 homes here carry federal flood insurance (83 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.8 million on 63 claims here, including $1.2 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 West Carroll Parish

Drought

Moderate
$968,504 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 20 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$832,733 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.
$646,183 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtModerate87.8
$969K
Inland floodingVery Low9.0
$833K
TornadoLow42.1
$646K
Heat waveLow58.7
$376K
Cold waveLow29.8
$280K
EarthquakeVery Low55.9
$258K
Strong windLow34.5
$236K
HailLow52.5
$199K
HurricaneLow62.8
$194K
Ice stormModerate65.7
$120K
LightningVery Low23.0
$54K
WildfireVery Low23.7
$7K
Winter weatherVery Low4.9
$2K
LandslideVery Low7.3
$10

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 West Carroll Parish. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane16
Flood3
Snowstorm2
Severe Storm2
Coastal Storm2
Severe Ice 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 29
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
Mar 13, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor 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
Feb 15, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
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
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 356 storm reports in West Carroll Parish since 1953, with 0 deaths and 51 injuries and about $56.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 20, 1976.

33tornadoes
104hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
182damaging thunderstorm winds
35floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 20, 1976F3–32 / 0
May 17, 1953F3–0 / 0
Apr 24, 2003F2Epps3 / 0
Apr 24, 1958F2–0 / 0
Oct 17, 1980F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 3, 2008Flash FloodEpps$34M
Sep 3, 2008Flash FloodKilbourne$6M
Oct 16, 2006Flash FloodBear Skin$4M
Mar 20, 1976Tornado–$3M
Mar 8, 2016Flash FloodOak Grove$1M
Feb 24, 2011TornadoOak Grove Roberts Ar$750K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 8, 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 1860, 2 hurricanes and 12 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of West Carroll Parish, 6 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1909, with top winds near 80 mph about 56 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
12tropical storms
2020most recent: Delta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph56 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph60 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 60 mph54 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph45 mi
Oct 3, 1860UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 10, 2020DeltaTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Oct 4, 2002LiliTropical storm, 45 mph53 mi
Sep 2, 1985ElenaTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Aug 16, 1985DannyTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 60 mph54 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 West Carroll Parish

Check your address flood zone ›
1.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (83 policies)
16.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.8 millionpaid on 63 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $1.2 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 West Carroll Parish

$94,400median home value (Louisiana $216,500, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Louisiana 1983, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
32.5%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; 4,715 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
Morehouse ParishLow32
Richland ParishVery Low34
Chicot County, ARLow16
East Carroll ParishVery Low30

Common questions about West Carroll Parish

What is the biggest natural hazard in West Carroll Parish?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in West Carroll Parish, about $968,504 a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $832,733.

How many federal disasters has West Carroll Parish had?

West Carroll Parish has been included in 29 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 West Carroll Parish a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 61st 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 West Carroll Parish?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 56 homes in West Carroll 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 West Carroll Parish had?

NOAA records list 33 tornadoes in West Carroll Parish since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 20, 1976. The weather service has also logged 104 hail reports and 35 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit West Carroll Parish?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 12 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of West Carroll 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.