riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Catahoula Parish Disaster Risk

Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

17th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#59

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

14th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 14% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 18% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 30% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 40% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Catahoula Parish

Risk Verdict

Catahoula Parish has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 17th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Catahoula Parish, scoring in the 74th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 40th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (30th), wildfire (18th), flood (14th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Catahoula Parish residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as earthquake also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Catahoula Parish is notably safer than the average county in Louisiana. Its composite risk score is 45.4 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Catahoula Parish, LA?
Catahoula Parish has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 17th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Catahoula Parish?
Catahoula Parish is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (74th percentile), earthquake (40th percentile), tornado (30th percentile), wildfire (18th percentile), flooding (14th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 74th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Catahoula Parish risk compare to the Louisiana average?
Catahoula Parish's composite risk percentile is 17th, compared to the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Catahoula Parish faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Louisiana.
Is Catahoula Parish at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Catahoula Parish's hurricane risk is at the 74th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Catahoula Parish is at the 14th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Catahoula Parish a safe place to live?
Catahoula Parish's composite risk score of 17th percentile is below the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 74th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Red River Parish

Louisiana

-0.3

Very Low

17th percentile

West Carroll Parish

Louisiana

-1.6

Very Low

15th percentile

Tensas Parish

Louisiana

-2.5

Very Low

15th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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