Assumption Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 70th
Assumption Parish faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 70.3, 70th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $20M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Assumption Parish is low, with a National Risk Index score of 70.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 70th national percentile and below the national average 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 drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 21.69 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $11M in expected annual loss and about 0.24 events per year; and coastal flood (seawater inundation from storm surge, high tides, and rising sea levels) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 3.69 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $20M in expected annual loss for a population of 21K.
Beyond physical exposure, Assumption Parish has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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: Assumption Parish has received 49 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 29 for hurricane events and 9 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, Assumption Parish ranks #32 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 21.69 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.24 / yr | $11M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.69 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.24 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 14.33 / yr | $554K |
| Lightning | Low | 89.34 / yr | $172K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.74 / yr | $675K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $53K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.25 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.07 / yr | $72K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.85 / yr | $13K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.88 / yr | $125K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $40 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $5K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $930 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Assumption Parish has received 49 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (29), Flood (9), 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 49 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Assumption Parish?
Assumption Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 70.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 70th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Assumption Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $2M EAL), Hurricane (High, $11M EAL), Coastal Flood (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Assumption Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Assumption Parish ranks #32 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Assumption Parish had?
FEMA records 49 federal disaster declarations for Assumption Parish since 1965, most often 29 for hurricane events and 9 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. Assumption Parish's $20M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.