Natural hazards · Bogalusa

Bogalusa, LA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Bogalusa comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 134 claims here since 1979. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Bogalusa?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Bogalusa to be higher than in 92% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes56%Inland flooding30%Everything else14%

By hazard

What Bogalusa faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

56% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Inland flooding

30% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Bogalusa flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bogalusa, from FEMA’s records.

134paid claims since 1979

$5.2Mpaid to owners

24homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Late winter severe storms: 42 claims, $3.1M
Hurricane Katrina: 16 claims, $659K
Tropical Storm Allison: 5 claims, $103K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (5) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Bogalusa isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Washington Parish.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

17homes raised above flood level

9buildings retrofitted against wind

Disasters that hit Bogalusa

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Bogalusa itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Bogalusa.

Brought FEMA money into BogalusaDeclared for Washington Parish only

2021

Hurricane Ida

4,562 households applied for aid $4.6M aid approved $842K to the City of Bogalusa for repairs

2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

1,684 households applied for aid $3.5M aid approved $505K to the City of Bogalusa for repairs

2012

Hurricane Isaac

1,141 households applied for aid $627K aid approved $114K to the City of Bogalusa for repairs

2008

Hurricane Gustav

608 households applied for aid $133K aid approved $107K to the City of Bogalusa for repairs

2005

Hurricane Rita

1 household applied for aid

2005

Hurricane Katrina

11,054 households applied for aid $21.9M aid approved $4.5M to the City of Bogalusa for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

$30K to the City of Bogalusa for repairs

2002

Hurricane Lili

$23K to the City of Bogalusa for repairs

2001

Tropical Storm Allison

$87K to the City of Bogalusa for repairs

Washington Parish has had 29 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and floods.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Bogalusa covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Bogalusa’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Bogalusa. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Bogalusa total about $5.1M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.