Jefferson Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 99th
Jefferson Parish faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.7, 99th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $371M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Jefferson Parish at high composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 98.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 99th 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 Jefferson Parish's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $251M in expected annual loss and about 0.28 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 87.87 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at High risk — $10M in expected annual loss and about 12.38 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $371M in expected annual loss for a population of 441K.
Beyond physical exposure, Jefferson Parish has a high 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). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The federal record bears this out: Jefferson Parish has received 50 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 29 for hurricane events and 5 for coastal storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, Jefferson Parish ranks #1 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.28 / yr | $251M |
| Lightning | Very High | 87.87 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | High | 12.38 / yr | $10M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.59 / yr | $12M |
| Hail | High | 0.87 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 2.04 / yr | $76M |
| Coastal Flood | Very High | 2.80 / yr | $11M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.04 / yr | $760K |
| Winter Weather | High | 0.58 / yr | $242K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.36 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.94 / yr | $674K |
| Drought | Low | 23.64 / yr | $122K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $219 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $10K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Jefferson Parish has received 50 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (29), Coastal Storm (5), Flood (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Francine |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Francine |
| September 2023 | Other | Seawater Intrusion |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 50 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Jefferson Parish?
Jefferson Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.7 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 99th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jefferson Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $251M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $3M EAL), Heat Wave (High, $10M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jefferson Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Jefferson Parish ranks #1 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Jefferson Parish had?
FEMA records 50 federal disaster declarations for Jefferson Parish since 1965, most often 29 for hurricane events and 5 for coastal 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. Jefferson Parish's $371M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.