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Oil City, LA, Municipal Complex IMG 5205Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0
–Not graded
Natural hazards in Oil City · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Oil City

Oil City isn’t graded for hazard risk: FEMA’s tract figures aren’t matched to Oil City yet. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2012.

Flood claims
4
paid since 2012 · $22K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
6
of 26 declared for Caddo Parish
By hazard

What Oil City faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

River and rain flooding

71%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Ice storms

10%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Hail

8%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 6 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Strong wind Earthquakes Hurricanes Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves Lightning Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 17% of Oil City’s expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Flood insurance claims

Does Oil City flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 2012

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oil City, from FEMA’s records.

Paid flood claims, by year
2012: 1 claim2013: 0 claims2014: 1 claim2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 1 claim2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims201220142017
20122026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Isaac1 claim · $6K
  • Hurricane Harvey1 claim · $10K
4
paid claims since 2012
$22K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$5K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Oil City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Caddo Parish.
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Oil City

Disasters that paid out in Oil City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Oil City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2026Severe Winter Storm$9K to the Town of Oil City for repairs
  2. 2021Severe Winter Storms8 households applied for aid$4K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 2020Hurricane Laura18 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
  4. 2016Severe Storms and Flooding89 households applied for aid$447K aid approved
  5. 2008Hurricane Gustav$2K to the Town of Oil City for repairs
  6. 2000Severe Winter Ice Storm$845 to the Town of Oil City for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Oil CityCaddo Parish only

Caddo Parish has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms.

Were you here?

Old photos of Oil City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Oil City archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Oil City faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
  • Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
  • Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Ice storms
  • Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
  • Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
  • Keep sand or salt by the door.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
  • Stay away from windows while it falls.
  • Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
  • Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
  • Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Oil City

Does Oil City flood?

Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Oil City since 2012, $22K in all. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaac (1).

Is Oil City in a flood zone?

Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Caddo Parish, 44% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Oil City?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Oil City’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in Oil City?

By FEMA money that reached Oil City, Severe Storms and Flooding (2016): 89 households applied for aid, $447K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Isaac: 1 paid, $6K.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oil City.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oil City’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.