West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 65% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 64 parishes in Louisiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $9.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $631 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (23 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 50 homes here carry federal flood insurance (88 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.3 million on 370 claims here, including $1.4 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 Feliciana 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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 | 31.5 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 71.1 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 64.9 | $2M | ||
| Hurricane | 78.2 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 51.9 | $508K | ||
| Heat wave | 53.2 | $379K | ||
| Drought | 60.4 | $253K | ||
| Lightning | 32.0 | $102K | ||
| Hail | 15.2 | $45K | ||
| Ice storm | 37.8 | $41K | ||
| Earthquake | 25.0 | $39K | ||
| Wildfire | 37.6 | $19K | ||
| Winter weather | 4.7 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 48.5 | $1K |
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 relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included West Feliciana Parish. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 41
Louisiana also had 9 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 129 storm reports in West Feliciana Parish since 1954, with 2 deaths and 5 injuries and about $6.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on February 19, 1954.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 19, 1954 | F2 | – | 4 / 1 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 10, 2024 | EF2 | Beechwood | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 3, 2000 | F1 | St Francisville | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 10, 2024 | EF1 | St Francisville | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2016 | Flash Flood | Retreat | $5M |
| Mar 13, 1999 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $750K |
| Nov 21, 1992 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Apr 3, 2000 | Tornado | St Francisville | $200K |
| Apr 3, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | St Francisville | $50K |
| May 5, 2011 | Flood | Angola | $50K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 25, 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 1856, 15 hurricanes and 26 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of West Feliciana Parish, 20 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1909, with top winds near 105 mph about 51 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 21, 1909 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 51 mi |
| Aug 30, 2021 | Ida | Category 2, 100 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 1, 1879 | Unnamed | Category 2, 100 mph | 58 mi |
| Oct 2, 1860 | Unnamed | Category 2, 100 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 26, 1992 | Andrew | Category 2, 95 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 1, 2008 | Gustav | Category 1, 95 mph | 64 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2021 | Ida | Category 2, 100 mph | 61 mi |
| Oct 10, 2020 | Delta | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 60 mi |
| Jun 8, 2020 | Cristobal | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 29, 2012 | Isaac | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 1, 2008 | Gustav | Category 1, 95 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 3, 2002 | Lili | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 64 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 Feliciana 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 Feliciana 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; 5,162 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Avoyelles Parish | 39 | |
| West Baton Rouge Parish | 35 | |
| Pointe Coupee Parish | 44 | |
| East Feliciana Parish | 38 | |
| Concordia Parish | 35 | |
| Wilkinson County, MS | 30 |
Common questions about West Feliciana Parish
What is the biggest natural hazard in West Feliciana Parish?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in West Feliciana Parish, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.9 million.
How many federal disasters has West Feliciana Parish had?
West Feliciana Parish has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 23 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is West Feliciana Parish a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 49th 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 Feliciana Parish?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 50 homes in West Feliciana 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 Feliciana Parish had?
NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in West Feliciana Parish since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on February 19, 1954. The weather service has also logged 24 hail reports and 10 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit West Feliciana Parish?
NOAA's hurricane records show 15 hurricanes and 26 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of West Feliciana Parish. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1909, with winds near 105 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.