St. Helena Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 36th
St. Helena Parish faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 36.3, 36th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in St. Helena Parish is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 36.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 36th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $779K in expected annual loss and about 18.33 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.19 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.39 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 11K.
Beyond physical exposure, St. Helena Parish has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: St. Helena Parish has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 25 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, St. Helena Parish ranks #47 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 18.33 / yr | $779K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.19 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.39 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 13.85 / yr | $277K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $34K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.95 / yr | $392K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.18 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Low | 2.23 / yr | $87K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.88 / yr | $23K |
| Lightning | Low | 83.37 / yr | $69K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $38K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.82 / yr | $141K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $23 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.42 / yr | $2K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
St. Helena Parish has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (25), Coastal Storm (4), Severe Ice Storm (2).
| 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 39 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for St. Helena Parish?
St. Helena Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 36.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 36th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in St. Helena Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $779K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does St. Helena Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
St. Helena Parish ranks #47 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has St. Helena Parish had?
FEMA records 39 federal disaster declarations for St. Helena Parish since 1965, most often 25 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. St. Helena Parish's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.