Acadia Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 89th
Acadia Parish faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 88.6, 89th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $51M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Acadia Parish is medium, with a National Risk Index score of 88.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 89th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Acadia Parish's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $22M in expected annual loss and about 0.15 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 19.68 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $883K in expected annual loss and about 82.26 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $51M in expected annual loss for a population of 57K.
Beyond physical exposure, Acadia Parish has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Acadia Parish has received 42 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 26 for hurricane events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, Acadia Parish ranks #15 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.15 / yr | $22M |
| Drought | High | 19.68 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | High | 82.26 / yr | $883K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.00 / yr | $19M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.05 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 10.03 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.67 / yr | $275K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.57 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $64K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $170K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 0.01 / yr | $33K |
| Hail | Low | 1.44 / yr | $128K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.57 / yr | $260K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.05 / yr | $25K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $36 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Acadia Parish has received 42 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (26), Severe Storm (4), Coastal Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Francine |
| September 2021 | Coastal Storm | Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Ida |
| March 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
Showing the 10 most recent of 42 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Acadia Parish?
Acadia Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 88.6 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 89th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Acadia Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $22M EAL), Drought (High, $2M EAL), Lightning (High, $883K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Acadia Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Acadia Parish ranks #15 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Acadia Parish had?
FEMA records 42 federal disaster declarations for Acadia Parish since 1965, most often 26 for hurricane events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in January 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Acadia Parish's $51M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.