Lafayette Parish
Louisiana — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
Lafayette Parish faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.2, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by lightning and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $190M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Lightning | Very High | 83.96 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.17 / yr | $98M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.05 / yr | $19M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 10.42 / yr | $5M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.75 / yr | $57M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.67 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Medium | 19.35 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 1.41 / yr | $555K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $760K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.63 / yr | $930K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.22 / yr | $2M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $58K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 0.01 / yr | $51K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.00 / yr | $53K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $172 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Lafayette Parish?
Lafayette Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.2 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 95th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lafayette Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Lightning (Very High, $4M EAL), Hurricane (Very High, $98M EAL), Cold Wave (High, $19M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lafayette Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Lafayette Parish ranks #6 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
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. Lafayette Parish's $190M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.