Ascension Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 92th
Ascension Parish faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 92.1, 92th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $120M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Ascension Parish carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 92.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 92nd 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.
Risk here concentrates in hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $74M in expected annual loss and about 0.24 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $13M in expected annual loss and about 0.24 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 14.89 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $120M in expected annual loss for a population of 126K.
Beyond physical exposure, Ascension Parish has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Ascension Parish has received 58 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 29 for hurricane events and 14 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, Ascension Parish ranks #11 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.24 / yr | $74M |
| Tornado | High | 0.24 / yr | $13M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 14.89 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | High | 87.28 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.89 / yr | $4M |
| Drought | Medium | 18.96 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.76 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.68 / yr | $18M |
| Hail | Medium | 1.37 / yr | $754K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.39 / yr | $246K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $433K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.18 / yr | $636K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.95 / yr | $29K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $12K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $149 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Ascension Parish has received 58 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (29), Flood (14), Coastal Storm (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Francine |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Francine |
| September 2021 | Coastal Storm | Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Ida |
| June 2021 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| March 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
Showing the 10 most recent of 58 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Ascension Parish?
Ascension Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 92.1 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 92th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Ascension Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $74M EAL), Tornado (High, $13M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Ascension Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Ascension Parish ranks #11 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Ascension Parish had?
FEMA records 58 federal disaster declarations for Ascension Parish since 1965, most often 29 for hurricane events and 14 for flood 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. Ascension Parish's $120M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.