Natural hazards · Welsh

Welsh, LA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Welsh comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 53 claims here since 1980. 12 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Welsh?

94
Very high
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Welsh to be higher than in 94% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding44%Hurricanes31%Tornadoes9%Drought6%Everything else11%
By hazard

What Welsh faces

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

Inland flooding

44% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places
Recorded about once a year in the area

Hurricanes

31% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 7 years in the area

Tornadoes

9% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 13 years in the area

Drought

6% of expected damage
Recorded about 23 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Welsh flood?

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

53paid claims since 1980
$2.1Mpaid to owners
9homes flooded more than once
19802026

Biggest named events

  • Mid-summer severe storms: 22 claims, $1.2M
  • Hurricane Delta: 2 claims, $7K
  • Hurricane Juan: 1 claim, $841

Homes that flooded again and again

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

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Welsh isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Jefferson Davis Parish.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

4homes raised above flood level
1storm safe rooms built
1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
1buildings retrofitted against wind
Disasters that hit Welsh

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WelshDeclared for Jefferson Davis Parish only
2020

Hurricane Delta

321 households applied for aid $312K aid approved $77K to the Town of Welsh for repairs
2020

Hurricane Laura

1,399 households applied for aid $1.6M aid approved $1.6M to the Town of Welsh for repairs
2017

Tropical Storm Harvey

$3K to the Town of Welsh for repairs
2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

238 households applied for aid $288K aid approved $28K to the Town of Welsh for repairs
2012

Hurricane Isaac

1 household applied for aid
2008

Hurricane Ike

194 households applied for aid $94K aid approved $71K to the Town of Welsh for repairs
2008

Hurricane Gustav

405 households applied for aid $108K aid approved $43K to the Town of Welsh for repairs
2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

7 households applied for aid $7K aid approved
2005

Hurricane Rita

2,381 households applied for aid $3.9M aid approved $984K to the Town of Welsh for repairs
2005

Hurricane Katrina

17 households applied for aid $17K aid approved
2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

76 households applied for aid $63K aid approved
2002

Hurricane Lili

$63K to the Town of Welsh for repairs
Jefferson Davis 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. Welsh covers 1 census tract, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Welsh’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Welsh. 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 Welsh total about $4.6M 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.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01