St. Landry Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 88th
St. Landry Parish faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 88.2, 88th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $50M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in St. Landry Parish is medium, with a National Risk Index score of 88.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 88th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 18.91 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 80.53 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 0.85 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $50M in expected annual loss for a population of 82K.
Beyond physical exposure, St. Landry Parish has a very high 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). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
History supports the rating: St. Landry Parish has received 46 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 23 for hurricane events and 9 for flood events. The most recent was Tropical Storm Arthur (tropical storm), declared in June 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, St. Landry Parish ranks #16 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 18.91 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | High | 80.53 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | High | 0.85 / yr | $7M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.21 / yr | $6M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.16 / yr | $8M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 11.22 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.39 / yr | $21M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.82 / yr | $408K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $84K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.87 / yr | $507K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $294K |
| Hail | Low | 1.58 / yr | $228K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.58 / yr | $44K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $16K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $284 |
| 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. Landry Parish has received 46 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Tropical Storm Arthur in June 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (23), Flood (9), Severe Storm (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Arthur |
| 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 |
| 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 46 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for St. Landry Parish?
St. Landry Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 88.2 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 88th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in St. Landry Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $3M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL), Tornado (High, $7M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does St. Landry Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
St. Landry Parish ranks #16 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has St. Landry Parish had?
FEMA records 46 federal disaster declarations for St. Landry Parish since 1965, most often 23 for hurricane events and 9 for flood events. The most recent was Tropical Storm Arthur, declared in June 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. Landry Parish's $50M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.