Lafayette Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
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
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Lafayette Parish is high, with a National Risk Index score of 95.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 95th 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.
Risk here concentrates in lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 83.96 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $98M in expected annual loss and about 0.17 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at High risk — $19M in expected annual loss and about 1.05 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $190M in expected annual loss for a population of 242K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lafayette Parish has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a 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.
History supports the rating: Lafayette Parish has received 43 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 24 for hurricane events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, Lafayette Parish ranks #6 for overall natural disaster risk.
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 |
Disaster History
Lafayette Parish has received 43 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (24), Flood (7), Coastal Storm (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
Showing the 10 most recent of 43 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
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.
How many federally declared disasters has Lafayette Parish had?
FEMA records 43 federal disaster declarations for Lafayette Parish since 1965, most often 24 for hurricane events and 7 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. Lafayette Parish's $190M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.