Natural hazards · Washington

Washington, LA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Washington comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1979. 12 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Washington?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Washington to be higher than in 70% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and drought.

Inland flooding37%Drought15%Hurricanes15%Tornadoes14%Cold waves11%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Washington faces

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

Inland flooding

37% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 74% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Drought

15% of expected damage

Recorded about 20 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

15% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 7 years in the area

Tornadoes

14% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

Cold waves

11% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Washington flood?

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

8paid claims since 1979

$214Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Mid-summer severe storms: 3 claims, $163K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: St. Landry Parish.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1buildings retrofitted against wind

Disasters that hit Washington

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WashingtonDeclared for St. Landry Parish only

2026

Tropical Storm Arthur

20 households applied for aid $90K aid approved

2021

Hurricane Ida

3 households applied for aid $500 aid approved

2020

Hurricane Delta

83 households applied for aid $151K aid approved $36K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2020

Hurricane Laura

39 households applied for aid $40K aid approved $13K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

175 households applied for aid $467K aid approved $106K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2013

Severe Storms and Flooding

$12K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2012

Hurricane Isaac

$7K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2008

Hurricane Gustav

481 households applied for aid $344K aid approved $237K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

18 households applied for aid $5K aid approved

2005

Hurricane Rita

422 households applied for aid $442K aid approved $19K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

50 households applied for aid $25K aid approved

2002

Hurricane Lili

$13K to the Town of Washington for repairs

St. Landry Parish has had 34 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. Washington is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

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

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.

Washington, LA natural hazards

How exposed is Washington?

What Washington faces

Inland flooding

Drought

Hurricanes

Tornadoes

Cold waves

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Washington flood?

Biggest named events

What’s been done with FEMA grants

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Tropical Storm Arthur

Hurricane Ida

Hurricane Delta

Hurricane Laura

Severe Storms and Flooding

Severe Storms and Flooding

Hurricane Isaac

Hurricane Gustav

Severe Storms and Flooding

Hurricane Rita

Severe Storms and Flooding

Hurricane Lili

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

Nearby