Natural Disasters in Start, LA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

36.7

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

24.5

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

94.8

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

63.8

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Drought74.7Heat Wave74.0Ice Storm73.9
HazardRisk Score
Drought74.7
Heat Wave74.0
Ice Storm73.9
Strong Wind72.9
Tornado71.8
Hail66.9
Hurricane66.2
Earthquake61.6
Cold Wave42.3
Lightning25.2
Wildfire24.6
Landslide17.1
Winter Weather9.5

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

36

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Feb 2026

Most Common Type

Hurricane

17 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Feb 18, 2026Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
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
Mar 13, 2016FloodSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Aug 29, 2012HurricaneHURRICANE ISAAC
May 6, 2011FloodFLOODING

Showing 20 of 36 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

2,169

Total IA Distributed

$4,508,672

Repair/Replace

$3,022,039

Rental Assistance

$583,870

DisasterRegistrationsTotal IA $Avg Damage
DR-46111N/A—
DR-42631,086$2,213,587$2,309
DR-1786540$1,169,691$2,226
DR-1668344$890,352$1,718
DR-448423$93,245—
DR-459099$89,677$1,153
DR-455969$50,121$1,087
DR-40806$1,250$307
DR-47981$750—

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

473

Total Claims Paid

$11,073,117

Avg Claim Payout

$23,410

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$1,947,806

Disasters with PA

7

Total Projects

65

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-1786Hurricane21$820,858
DR-4263Flood23$762,392
DR-1603Hurricane10$167,277
DR-4570Hurricane7$153,135
DR-4590Severe Storm(s)2$28,457
DR-1607Hurricane1$12,497
DR-4080Hurricane1$3,191

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

7

Federal Funding

$1,819,692

Properties Protected

7

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.13

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine3$1,587,793
97.1: Expanded Mitigation Strategies - PILOT1$142,825
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan1$50,000
403.2: Stormwater Management - Diversions1$39,074
403.1: Stormwater Management - Culverts1$0

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

Start has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are drought, heat wave, ice storm. The area has had 36 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (17 declarations). 473 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $1,947,806 in public assistance recovery funding. $4,508,672 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 7 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.