Orleans Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
Orleans Parish faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.3, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $304M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Orleans Parish carries a high composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 98.3 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 Orleans Parish's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Very High risk — $223M in expected annual loss and about 0.25 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 86.36 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at High risk — $15M in expected annual loss and about 0.65 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $304M in expected annual loss for a population of 384K.
Beyond physical exposure, Orleans 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 county's disaster history tells the same story: Orleans Parish has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1998, including 26 for hurricane events and 4 for coastal storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, Orleans Parish ranks #2 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.25 / yr | $223M |
| Lightning | Very High | 86.36 / yr | $3M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.65 / yr | $15M |
| Heat Wave | High | 14.23 / yr | $8M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 2.68 / yr | $47M |
| Hail | Medium | 1.21 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 0.75 / yr | $215K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.75 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.28 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.20 / yr | $133K |
| Drought | Low | 20.75 / yr | $186K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $34K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.16 / yr | $404K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $78 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Orleans Parish has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1998, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (26), Coastal Storm (4), Other (2).
| 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 39 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Orleans Parish?
Orleans Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.3 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 Orleans Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $223M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $3M EAL), Cold Wave (High, $15M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Orleans Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Orleans Parish ranks #2 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Orleans Parish had?
FEMA records 39 federal disaster declarations for Orleans Parish since 1998, most often 26 for hurricane events and 4 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. Orleans Parish's $304M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.