Tornado Risk in Terrebonne Parish, LA
How likely is a tornado in Terrebonne Parish, LA?
37 tornado tracks have crossed Terrebonne Parish since 1952 by NOAA's count, roughly one every 2.1 years - the Elevated band on this site's scale. That is the 78th percentile nationally for tornado frequency. Within Louisiana alone, Terrebonne Parish ranks 33 of 64 counties for tornado frequency.
The number that matters more than frequency
No violent (EF4-5) tornado has been recorded in Terrebonne Parish in NOAA's 76-year database. Of its 37 recorded tracks, 34 were weak (EF0-1) and 3 significant (EF2-3).
Shelter and safe-room economics
Louisiana does not currently have a confirmed state rebate layered on top of FEMA's 75% Hazard Mitigation cost-share, so a Terrebonne Parish homeowner should expect the full national range: $2,890-$13,280, $7,645 typical.
Power after the storm, not just shelter during it
A direct hit is not required for Terrebonne Parish to lose power - outbreak-wide outages across Louisiana regularly reach homes and businesses well outside the actual tracks. A battery bank covers that gap without a generator's fuel and venting needs.
Wind damage may need its own endorsement
Louisiana is one of a handful of states where insurers can write wind/hail damage out of a standard homeowners policy - tornado damage may not be fully covered without a separate wind endorsement. Worth confirming directly on a Terrebonne Parish policy rather than assuming it is included.
What Terrebonne Parish's figure does not tell you
Terrebonne Parish's figure is county-wide, not address-specific. Terrebonne Parish covers about 1,230 square miles, so a single touch here counts the same as a single touch in a county a fraction of that size. NOAA also documents that older records undercount weaker tornadoes from before Doppler radar became standard. Terrebonne Parish has about 103,864 residents.