St. Charles Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 85th
St. Charles Parish faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 85.1, 85th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and coastal flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $57M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
St. Charles Parish carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 85.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 85th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $29M in expected annual loss and about 0.28 events per year; coastal flood (seawater inundation from storm surge, high tides, and rising sea levels) at Very High risk — $13M in expected annual loss and about 3.76 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 14.74 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $57M in expected annual loss for a population of 52K.
Beyond physical exposure, St. Charles Parish has a medium 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). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: St. Charles Parish has received 51 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 31 for hurricane events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, St. Charles Parish ranks #20 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.28 / yr | $29M |
| Coastal Flood | Very High | 3.76 / yr | $13M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 14.74 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.26 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | Medium | 91.19 / yr | $455K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.74 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.50 / yr | $8M |
| Drought | Low | 26.43 / yr | $182K |
| Hail | Low | 1.00 / yr | $232K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $114K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.84 / yr | $32K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.06 / yr | $187K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $9K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $37 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
St. Charles Parish has received 51 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (31), Flood (6), Coastal Storm (5).
| 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 |
| 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 51 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for St. Charles Parish?
St. Charles Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 85.1 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 85th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in St. Charles Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $29M EAL), Coastal Flood (Very High, $13M EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does St. Charles Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
St. Charles Parish ranks #20 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has St. Charles Parish had?
FEMA records 51 federal disaster declarations for St. Charles Parish since 1965, most often 31 for hurricane events and 6 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. St. Charles Parish's $57M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.