Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 93th
Tangipahoa Parish faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 93.3, 93th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $107M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Tangipahoa Parish at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 93.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 93rd 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 — $54M in expected annual loss and about 0.21 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 84.06 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 14.24 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $107M in expected annual loss for a population of 133K.
Beyond physical exposure, Tangipahoa Parish has a 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Tangipahoa Parish has received 48 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 29 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, Tangipahoa Parish ranks #9 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.21 / yr | $54M |
| Lightning | High | 84.06 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 14.24 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.71 / yr | $34M |
| Tornado | High | 0.81 / yr | $6M |
| Hail | Medium | 2.12 / yr | $973K |
| Drought | Medium | 18.23 / yr | $931K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.95 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.74 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.76 / yr | $289K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $267K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.69 / yr | $817K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $482K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $259 |
| Winter Weather | Low | 1.20 / yr | $22K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Tangipahoa Parish has received 48 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (29), Flood (6), 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 48 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Tangipahoa Parish?
Tangipahoa Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 93.3 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 93th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Tangipahoa Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $54M EAL), Lightning (High, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Tangipahoa Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Tangipahoa Parish ranks #9 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Tangipahoa Parish had?
FEMA records 48 federal disaster declarations for Tangipahoa Parish since 1965, most often 29 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. Tangipahoa Parish's $107M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.