Louisiana natural disasters & FEMA declarations
LA · 11th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Louisiana has had 110 federally declared disasters since 1953, the 11th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Hurricane (38 declarations, about 35% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), on Feb 18, 2026.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Louisiana, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 38 | 35% |
| Flood | 29 | 26% |
| Severe Storm | 15 | 14% |
| Fire | 5 | 5% |
| Coastal Storm | 5 | 5% |
| Tornado | 5 | 5% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 3 | 3% |
| Biological | 3 | 3% |
| Winter Storm | 2 | 2% |
| Other | 2 | 2% |
| Snowstorm | 2 | 2% |
| Toxic Substances | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 77 |
| Emergency (EM) | 28 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 5 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Louisiana's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 4 |
| 1960s | 4 |
| 1970s | 14 |
| 1980s | 11 |
| 1990s | 11 |
| 2000s | 20 |
| 2010s | 20 |
| 2020s | 26 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | DR-4900-LA |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | EM-3638-LA |
| Sep 16, 2024 | Hurricane Francine | Hurricane | DR-4817-LA |
| Sep 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm Francine | Hurricane | EM-3614-LA |
| Sep 27, 2023 | Seawater Intrusion | Other | EM-3600-LA |
| Aug 30, 2023 | Highway 113 Fire | Fire | FM-5486-LA |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Louisiana
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Louisiana in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Louisiana had?
Louisiana has had 110 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1953, the 11th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Louisiana?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Louisiana is "Hurricane", with 38 declarations — about 35% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Louisiana?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Louisiana in this snapshot was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), declared Feb 18, 2026.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18