St. Martin Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 87th
St. Martin Parish faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 87.3, 87th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $47M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates St. Martin Parish at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 87.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 87th 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.
Most of St. Martin Parish's expected losses come from hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $21M in expected annual loss and about 0.20 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 22.41 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at High risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 1.03 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $47M in expected annual loss for a population of 52K.
Beyond physical exposure, St. Martin Parish has a very 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: St. Martin Parish has received 54 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 29 for hurricane events and 12 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, St. Martin Parish ranks #18 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.20 / yr | $21M |
| Drought | High | 22.41 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.03 / yr | $5M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.61 / yr | $5M |
| Lightning | High | 86.97 / yr | $753K |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.69 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 10.39 / yr | $995K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.45 / yr | $157K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.04 / yr | $9M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.94 / yr | $37K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $136K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 0.81 / yr | $283K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $141 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.21 / yr | $52K |
| 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. Martin Parish has received 54 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (29), Flood (12), Coastal Storm (4).
| 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 54 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for St. Martin Parish?
St. Martin Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 87.3 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 87th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in St. Martin Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $21M EAL), Drought (High, $1M EAL), Cold Wave (High, $5M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does St. Martin Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
St. Martin Parish ranks #18 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has St. Martin Parish had?
FEMA records 54 federal disaster declarations for St. Martin Parish since 1965, most often 29 for hurricane events and 12 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. Martin Parish's $47M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.