Lake Charles, LA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Lake Charles is rated Relatively High for overall natural hazard risk — higher risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Calcasieu Parish, LA. The county's highest-rated hazards are lightning, hurricane, and tornado.
Storm events near Lake Charles
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Lake Charles's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Lake Charles itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Calcasieu Parish's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Lake Charles along with the rest of the county, not a Lake Charles-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 90.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Inland Flooding | 94.5 | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flooding | 84 | Relatively High |
| Earthquake | 65.5 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 88.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 95.6 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 92.3 | Relatively High |
| Drought | 85.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 93.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 98.2 | Very High |
| Ice Storm | 90.1 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 35.8 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 99.2 | Very High |
| Strong Wind | 84.3 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 32 | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Calcasieu Parish risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Calcasieu Parish:
More on Calcasieu Parish:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Lake Charles, LA at risk of?
Lake Charles is rated Relatively High for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — higher risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Calcasieu Parish, where Lake Charles is located, are lightning, hurricane, and tornado.
What is Lake Charles's biggest natural hazard risk?
Lightning is the highest-rated hazard for Calcasieu Parish, where Lake Charles is located, scoring 99.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Lake Charles a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Yes — Lake Charles carries higher risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively High" for Calcasieu Parish.
Has Lake Charles had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 42 tornado, 64 hail, 62 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Lake Charles since 2016.