Natural hazards · Westlake

Westlake, LA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Westlake comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 147 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 Westlake?

87
Very high
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Westlake to be higher than in 87% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes44%Inland flooding35%Tornadoes7%Cold waves5%Everything else9%
By hazard

What Westlake faces

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

Hurricanes

44% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 8 years in the area

Inland flooding

35% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 78% of U.S. places
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

7% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Cold waves

5% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 75% of U.S. places
Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Westlake flood?

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

147paid claims since 1979
$4.9Mpaid to owners
20homes flooded more than once
19792026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Ike: 23 claims, $1.3M
  • Hurricane Rita: 15 claims, $1.1M
  • Hurricane Delta: 4 claims, $107K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (7) ■ flooded 2+ times

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

What’s been done with FEMA grants

11homes raised above flood level
8flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
5buildings retrofitted against wind
Disasters that hit Westlake

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WestlakeDeclared for Calcasieu Parish only
2021

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

26 households applied for aid $10K aid approved
2021

Severe Winter Storms

32 households applied for aid $18K aid approved
2020

Hurricane Delta

670 households applied for aid $398K aid approved $68K to the City of Westlake for repairs
2020

Hurricane Laura

4,090 households applied for aid $6.3M aid approved $8.7M to the City of Westlake for repairs
2017

Tropical Storm Harvey

$39K to the City of Westlake for repairs
2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid
2008

Hurricane Ike

1,207 households applied for aid $1.1M aid approved $324K to the City of Westlake for repairs
2008

Hurricane Gustav

955 households applied for aid $66K aid approved $155K to the City of Westlake for repairs
2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

43 households applied for aid $49K aid approved
2005

Hurricane Rita

5,742 households applied for aid $12.2M aid approved $8.9M to the City of Westlake for repairs
2005

Hurricane Katrina

58 households applied for aid $84K aid approved
2002

Hurricane Lili

$12K to the City of Westlake for repairs
Calcasieu 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. Westlake covers 1 census tract, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Westlake’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Westlake. 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 Westlake total about $3.1M 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.

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