West Carroll Parish, Louisiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 87.8 | $969K | ||
| Inland flooding | 9.0 | $833K | ||
| Tornado | 42.1 | $646K | ||
| Heat wave | 58.7 | $376K | ||
| Cold wave | 29.8 | $280K | ||
| Earthquake | 55.9 | $258K | ||
| Strong wind | 34.5 | $236K | ||
| Hail | 52.5 | $199K | ||
| Hurricane | 62.8 | $194K | ||
| Ice storm | 65.7 | $120K | ||
| Lightning | 23.0 | $54K | ||
| Wildfire | 23.7 | $7K | ||
| Winter weather | 4.9 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 7.3 | $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
Most recent
Show all 29
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 20, 1976 | F3 | – | 32 / 0 |
| May 17, 1953 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 24, 2003 | F2 | Epps | 3 / 0 |
| Apr 24, 1958 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 17, 1980 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 2008 | Flash Flood | Epps | $34M |
| Sep 3, 2008 | Flash Flood | Kilbourne | $6M |
| Oct 16, 2006 | Flash Flood | Bear Skin | $4M |
| Mar 20, 1976 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Mar 8, 2016 | Flash Flood | Oak Grove | $1M |
| Feb 24, 2011 | Tornado | Oak 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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 21, 1909 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 56 mi |
| Aug 20, 1888 | Unnamed | Category 1, 75 mph | 60 mi |
| Jun 28, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 54 mi |
| Sep 10, 1965 | Betsy | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 16, 1923 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 45 mi |
| Oct 3, 1860 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 64 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2020 | Delta | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 62 mi |
| Oct 4, 2002 | Lili | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 53 mi |
| Sep 2, 1985 | Elena | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 65 mi |
| Aug 16, 1985 | Danny | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 10, 1965 | Betsy | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 59 mi |
| Jun 28, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 54 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Morehouse Parish | 32 | |
| Richland Parish | 34 | |
| Chicot County, AR | 16 | |
| East Carroll Parish | 30 |
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.