Natural Disasters in Columbia, LA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

10.5

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

8.0

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

69.5

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

55.9

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Hurricane62.2Heat Wave56.3Drought54.4
HazardRisk Score
Hurricane62.2
Heat Wave56.3
Drought54.4
Ice Storm46.0
Strong Wind44.3
Tornado39.9
Hail38.6
Earthquake28.3
Wildfire26.0
Landslide24.6
Lightning21.9
Cold Wave14.1
Winter Weather5.3

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

37

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

18 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Sep 10, 2024HurricaneTROPICAL STORM FRANCINE
Sep 13, 2021Coastal StormTROPICAL STORM NICHOLAS
Aug 29, 2021HurricaneHURRICANE IDA
Aug 27, 2021HurricaneTROPICAL STORM IDA
Mar 9, 2021Severe Ice StormSEVERE WINTER STORMS
Feb 18, 2021Severe Ice StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Oct 27, 2020HurricaneTROPICAL STORM ZETA
Oct 16, 2020HurricaneHURRICANE DELTA
Oct 7, 2020HurricaneHURRICANE DELTA
Sep 14, 2020HurricaneHURRICANE SALLY
Aug 28, 2020HurricaneHURRICANE LAURA
Aug 23, 2020HurricaneTROPICAL STORMS LAURA AND MARCO
Jun 7, 2020Coastal StormTROPICAL STORM CRISTOBAL
Mar 24, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
Sep 19, 2019FloodFLOODING
Mar 13, 2016FloodSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Aug 29, 2012HurricaneHURRICANE ISAAC
Dec 10, 2009Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING

Showing 20 of 37 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

869

Total IA Distributed

$1,301,019

Repair/Replace

$701,832

Rental Assistance

$312,590

DisasterRegistrationsTotal IA $Avg Damage
DR-45901N/A—
DR-4263693$908,181$1,858
DR-1668128$248,421$2,946
DR-448428$129,049—
DR-455912$10,096$649
DR-17867$5,272$1,115

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

490

Total Claims Paid

$5,286,834

Avg Claim Payout

$10,789

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$2,057,444

Disasters with PA

11

Total Projects

93

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-4263Flood13$493,672
DR-1863Severe Storm(s)32$489,630
DR-4462Flood4$424,295
DR-1786Hurricane13$225,726
DR-4559Hurricane8$210,620
DR-1437Hurricane13$88,568
DR-4080Hurricane3$59,425
DR-4570Hurricane2$33,536
DR-1603Hurricane2$15,426
DR-4590Severe Storm(s)2$13,727
DR-1607Hurricane1$2,818

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

6

Federal Funding

$492,200

Properties Protected

2

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.12

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
97.1: Expanded Mitigation Strategies - PILOT2$300,000
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan1$65,000
202.1: Elevation of Private Structures - Riverine1$0
401.1: Water and Sanitary Sewer System Protective Measures1$0
205.8: Retrofitting Public Structures - Wind1$127,200

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Columbia has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hurricane, heat wave, drought. The area has had 37 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (18 declarations). 490 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $2,057,444 in public assistance recovery funding. $1,301,019 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 6 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.