Union Parish, LA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Union Parish has experienced 36 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Union Parish's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, strong wind, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 35% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (87th 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. Union Parish has been designated in 36 declarations since 1977, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (17), severe storm (5), severe ice storm (3).
| 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 36 total declarations since 1977.
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 | 44.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 57.8 | 17 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 52.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 76.8 | 79 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 64.6 | 16 | 0 | $7.2M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 64.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 49.5 | 50 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 89.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 14.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 90 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 18.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 39 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 42 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 60.8 | 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
Union Parish ranks in the 87th 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 | 87th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 80th | High |
| Household characteristics | 87th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 67th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 85th | High |
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 | 38th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 38th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 85.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 162 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 69 in 2016–20 vs 93 in 2021–25 (+35% — 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 Union Parish?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Union Parish, Louisiana are ice storm, strong wind, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Union Parish received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Union Parish has received 36 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (17 declarations).
Has Union Parish had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Union Parish include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Winter Storm (2026), Tropical Storm Francine (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.
How does Union Parish's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Ouachita Parish, LA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Jackson Parish, LA has the lowest (Very Low). Union Parish is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Union Parish's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Union 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. Union Parish's composite score of 50 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 50% of US counties.