De Soto Parish, LA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
De Soto Parish has experienced 33 federally declared disasters since 1991, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
De Soto Parish's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, heat wave, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 21% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (81st percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. De Soto Parish has been designated in 33 declarations since 1991, covering 9 disaster types including hurricane (17), severe storm (4), winter storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Francine |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
| 2021 | Coastal Storm | Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Ida |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
Showing the 10 most recent of 33 total declarations since 1991.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 55.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 46.2 | 32 | 1 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 42.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 82.4 | 83 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 50 | 28 | 0 | $3.7M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 67.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 69.9 | 24 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 88.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 39.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 73.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 29.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 54.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 51.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 29.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
De Soto Parish ranks in the 81st percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81st | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 74th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 90th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 79th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 58th | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 45th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 43rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 81.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 166 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 75 in 2016–20 vs 91 in 2021–25 (+21% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in De Soto Parish?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in De Soto Parish, Louisiana are strong wind, heat wave, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has De Soto Parish received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. De Soto Parish has received 33 federal disaster declarations since 1991, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (17 declarations).
Has De Soto Parish had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for De Soto Parish include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Winter Storm (2026), Tropical Storm Francine (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1991.
How does De Soto Parish's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Caddo Parish, LA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Red River Parish, LA has the lowest (Very Low). De Soto Parish is rated Very Low overall.
How is De Soto Parish's composite disaster risk index calculated?
De Soto Parish's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. De Soto Parish's composite score of 42 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 42% of US counties.