Ascension Parish
Louisiana — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 92th
Ascension Parish faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 92.1, 92th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $120M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.24 / yr | $74M |
| Tornado | High | 0.24 / yr | $13M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 14.89 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | High | 87.28 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.89 / yr | $4M |
| Drought | Medium | 18.96 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.76 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.68 / yr | $18M |
| Hail | Medium | 1.37 / yr | $754K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.39 / yr | $246K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $433K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.18 / yr | $636K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 0.95 / yr | $29K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $12K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $149 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Ascension Parish?
Ascension Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 92.1 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 92th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Ascension Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $74M EAL), Tornado (High, $13M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Ascension Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Ascension Parish ranks #11 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
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. Ascension Parish's $120M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.