Jefferson Parish
Louisiana — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 99th
Jefferson Parish faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.7, 99th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $371M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Very High | 0.28 / yr | $251M |
| Lightning | Very High | 87.87 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | High | 12.38 / yr | $10M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.59 / yr | $12M |
| Hail | High | 0.87 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 2.04 / yr | $76M |
| Coastal Flood | Very High | 2.80 / yr | $11M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.04 / yr | $760K |
| Winter Weather | High | 0.58 / yr | $242K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.36 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.94 / yr | $674K |
| Drought | Low | 23.64 / yr | $122K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $219 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $10K |
| 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 Jefferson Parish?
Jefferson Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.7 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 99th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jefferson Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Very High, $251M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $3M EAL), Heat Wave (High, $10M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jefferson Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Jefferson Parish ranks #1 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. Jefferson Parish's $371M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.