East Baton Rouge Parish
Louisiana — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
East Baton Rouge Parish faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.0, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $267M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | Very High | 0.40 / yr | $52M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.95 / yr | $23M |
| Lightning | Very High | 86.62 / yr | $3M |
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.20 / yr | $67M |
| Heat Wave | High | 14.85 / yr | $12M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 1.82 / yr | $103M |
| Hail | High | 1.63 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.50 / yr | $946K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.26 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 1.21 / yr | $98K |
| Drought | Medium | 19.21 / yr | $318K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.09 / yr | $2K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 0.01 / yr | $240K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $14K |
| 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 East Baton Rouge Parish?
East Baton Rouge Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.0 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 98th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in East Baton Rouge Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Very High, $52M EAL), Cold Wave (High, $23M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does East Baton Rouge Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
East Baton Rouge Parish ranks #3 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high 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. East Baton Rouge Parish's $267M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.