Louisiana
The coast is losing ground. Literally.
Louisiana loses a football field of coastline every 100 minutes. Hurricanes push storm surge 20 feet inland. The Mississippi River levee system is the only thing between New Orleans and catastrophe. Katrina was not an anomaly. It was a preview.
Enter your Louisiana ZIP for live alerts, forecasts, and county-specific data.
Know your region
What you prepare for depends on where in Louisiana you live.
New Orleans and southeast Louisiana
New Orleans, Metairie, Slidell, the River Parishes. Hurricane Katrina (2005) killed 1,577 people in Louisiana. Hurricane Ida (2021) knocked out the entire power grid. The city sits below sea level, protected by levees and pumps that must function perfectly during every storm.
Primary hazards: hurricanes, storm surge, flooding, subsidence
Southwest Louisiana
Lake Charles, Sulphur, DeRidder. Hurricane Laura (2020) and Hurricane Delta (2020) struck within six weeks of each other. The region was barely rebuilding when Ida hit in 2021. Industrial facilities along the coast add chemical release risk during hurricanes.
Primary hazards: hurricanes, industrial hazards, flooding, heat
Northern Louisiana
Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria. Supercell tornadoes from March through May. The 2016 floods across the state caused billions in damage. Northern Louisiana is in Dixie Alley for tornado risk. Ice storms occasionally paralyze the region.
Primary hazards: tornadoes, flooding, severe storms, ice storms
Your hazard profile
5 hazards that apply to Louisiana.
Each links to a full guide with during-event protocol, recovery steps, and resources specific to LA.
Hurricanes
Katrina (2005) was the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Laura (2020) and Ida (2021) struck in successive years. Storm surge along the coast can push water 20 or more feet inland. The coast is losing land at one of the fastest rates on Earth.
Read the hurricanes guide →
Flooding
The 2016 Baton Rouge flood was a 1,000-year rain event that damaged 150,000 homes. Louisiana receives some of the heaviest rainfall in the country. Subsidence (sinking land) worsens flooding everywhere. Flood insurance is essential.
Read the flooding guide →
Tornadoes
Louisiana averages 37 tornadoes per year. Tropical systems spawn tornadoes with little warning. Springtime supercell tornadoes in northern Louisiana can be violent. Many tornadoes here form in rain-wrapped cells that are hard to see.
Read the tornadoes guide →
Severe thunderstorms
Louisiana experiences severe storms year-round. Damaging winds, large hail, and torrential rain overwhelm drainage systems. Summer storms produce rain rates that exceed the capacity of any pump system.
Read the severe thunderstorms guide →
Extreme heat
Heat indices above 110 degrees F last from June through September. Power outages during heat events create life-threatening conditions. Louisiana's humidity makes even moderate temperatures dangerous.
Read the extreme heat guide →
Louisiana resources
The agencies and programs that cover your state.
GOHSEP
Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. The state's central disaster coordination office. Manages evacuations, shelters, and FEMA program administration.
Get a Game Plan
Louisiana's official preparedness campaign. Evacuation route finder, supply checklists, shelter locations, and the state's emergency alert system.
NWS New Orleans
Southeast Louisiana forecasts. Hurricane advisories, storm surge warnings, flood alerts, and tropical weather outlooks. The primary source during active hurricane threats.
LA Coastal Protection
Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Tracks coastal land loss, restoration projects, and the state's long-term plan to rebuild the coast.
LA 2-1-1
Statewide information and referral. Disaster recovery, energy assistance, food banks, and housing support. Critical resource during hurricane recovery.
The year of three storms
Louisiana rebuilt and rebuilt and rebuilt again.
In 2020, Hurricane Laura made landfall near Lake Charles as a Category 4, the strongest storm to hit Louisiana since 1856. Six weeks later, Hurricane Delta struck nearly the same area. The following year, Hurricane Ida knocked out the entire New Orleans power grid and caused catastrophic damage across southeast Louisiana.
Three major hurricanes in 14 months. Lake Charles was still tarped when Delta arrived. Some residents were still displaced from Laura when Ida hit the other side of the state. The cumulative toll on infrastructure, housing, and mental health exceeded anything a single storm could cause.
For Louisiana households, the lesson is not about surviving one storm. It is about sustaining preparedness across a season that can deliver multiple hits. Stock 7 to 14 days of supplies. Have an evacuation plan and a backup. Know that recovery from one storm may not be finished before the next one arrives.