East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
East Baton Rouge Parish faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.0, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $267M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates East Baton Rouge Parish at high composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 98.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 98th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of East Baton Rouge Parish's expected losses come from tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Very High risk — $52M in expected annual loss and about 0.40 events per year; cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at High risk — $23M in expected annual loss and about 0.95 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 86.62 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $267M in expected annual loss for a population of 457K.
Beyond physical exposure, East Baton Rouge Parish has a 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: East Baton Rouge Parish has received 47 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 26 for hurricane events and 10 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, East Baton Rouge Parish ranks #3 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | Very High | 0.40 / yr | $52M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.95 / yr | $23M |
| Lightning | Very High | 86.62 / yr | $3M |
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.20 / yr | $67M |
| Heat Wave | High | 14.85 / yr | $12M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.82 / yr | $103M |
| Hail | High | 1.63 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.50 / yr | $946K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.26 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 1.21 / yr | $98K |
| Drought | Medium | 19.21 / yr | $318K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $2K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 0.01 / yr | $240K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $14K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
East Baton Rouge Parish has received 47 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (26), Flood (10), 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 47 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for East Baton Rouge Parish?
East Baton Rouge Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.0 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 98th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in East Baton Rouge Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Very High, $52M EAL), Cold Wave (High, $23M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does East Baton Rouge Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
East Baton Rouge Parish ranks #3 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has East Baton Rouge Parish had?
FEMA records 47 federal disaster declarations for East Baton Rouge Parish since 1965, most often 26 for hurricane events and 10 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. East Baton Rouge Parish's $267M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.