St. Charles Parish

Louisiana — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Medium

Composite Risk Score

85.1

National percentile: 85th

St. Charles Parish faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 85.1, 85th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and coastal flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $57M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $57M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very High Capacity to recover
Population 52K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hurricane
High $29M/yr
Coastal Flood
Very High $13M/yr
Heat Wave
Low $1M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hurricane High 0.28 / yr $29M
Coastal Flood Very High 3.76 / yr $13M
Heat Wave Low 14.74 / yr $1M
Tornado Medium 0.26 / yr $3M
Lightning Medium 91.19 / yr $455K
Cold Wave Low 0.74 / yr $1M
Riverine Flood Low 1.50 / yr $8M
Drought Low 26.43 / yr $182K
Hail Low 1.00 / yr $232K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $114K
Winter Weather Low 0.84 / yr $32K
Strong Wind Low 1.06 / yr $187K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $7K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.07 / yr $9K
Landslide Very Low 0.04 / yr $37
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 St. Charles Parish?

St. Charles Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 85.1 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 85th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in St. Charles Parish?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $29M EAL), Coastal Flood (Very High, $13M EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does St. Charles Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?

St. Charles Parish ranks #20 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. St. Charles Parish's $57M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.