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Natural hazard risk in Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively High (score 98.2 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$304.1 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1998
35[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$7.30 billion[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
24[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index rates the overall natural hazard risk for Orleans Parish Relatively High compared with other US counties, with a Risk Index score of 98.2 out of 100[5]. Within the parish, the hazards with the highest FEMA scores are hurricane, lightning and cold wave[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Orleans Parish at $304.1 million a year, rated Relatively High[1]. This is FEMA's estimate of average yearly economic loss, not money anyone paid, and it does not predict next year's losses[7]. Hurricane accounts for the largest share, with an estimated $222.9 million a year rated Very High[8], followed by inland flooding at $46.7 million a year[9]. FEMA rates social vulnerability in the parish Relatively High (score 77.5), which describes how susceptible social groups are to the harm hazards cause[10]. FEMA rates community resilience Very High (score 99.8), meaning a strong ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[11].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
HurricaneVery High$222.9 million[8]
LightningVery High$3.0 million[12]
Cold WaveRelatively High$15.2 million[13]
Heat WaveRelatively High$8.1 million[14]
Inland FloodingRelatively High$46.7 million[9]
HailRelatively Moderate$1.8 million[15]
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$215,000[16]
Coastal FloodingRelatively Moderate$1.9 million[17]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$1.4 million[18]
TornadoRelatively Moderate$2.1 million[19]
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$133,000[20]
DroughtRelatively Low$186,000[21]
WildfireVery Low$34,000[22]
Strong WindRelatively Low$404,000[23]
LandslideVery Low$78[24]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, volcanic activity[25].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively High77.5[10]
Community resilienceVery High99.8[11]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Orleans Parish Relatively High (score 93.5)[9] and coastal flooding risk Relatively Moderate (score 81.2)[17]. OpenFEMA data show 56,109 residential flood insurance contracts in force out of 108,361 residential structures, a penetration rate of 51.8% as of 2026-08-03[26]. A HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP claims for losses from 1978 to 2026 counts 127,255 claims, and NFIP paid $7.30 billion in total[3]. The year with the most paid claims was 2005, with 62,004[3].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[9] Relatively High, $46.7 million expected loss a year
Coastal Flooding, FEMA risk rating[17] Relatively Moderate, $1.9 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 56,109 of 108,361 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[26] 15,430, of which 17,781 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 127,255 filed, $7.30 billion paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[27]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 35 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Orleans Parish since 1998, 26 of them for hurricanes[2]. The most recent was EM-3638-LA, Severe Winter Storm, declared 2026-01-24, and before that DR-4817-LA, Hurricane Francine, declared 2024-09-16[28]. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center tornado database records 24 tornadoes that touched the parish from 1950 to 2024, with the strongest rated EF3[4]. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2022-12-14[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Orleans Parish, since 1998
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 26
Coastal Storm[2] 4
Severe Ice Storm[2] 2
Winter Storm[2] 1
Tornado[2] 1
Severe Storm[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
EM-3638-LA[28] Severe Winter Storm 2026-01-24
DR-4817-LA[28] Hurricane Francine 2024-09-16
EM-3614-LA[28] Tropical Storm Francine 2024-09-10
EM-3574-LA[28] Tropical Storm Nicholas 2021-09-13
DR-4611-LA[28] Hurricane Ida 2021-08-29

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Hurricanes

Before

  • Know your hurricane risk, including rain, wind and tornadoes far inland from landfall.
  • Learn your evacuation zone and routes, and practice them with your household and pets.
  • Keep insurance policies and ID current, with password-protected digital copies.
  • Clear drains and gutters, bring in outdoor furniture and consider hurricane shutters.
  • Keep your phone charged, buy backup chargers and gather supplies, including medication and pet supplies.

During

  • If you are in a mandatory evacuation zone and officials order an evacuation, leave right away.
  • For high winds, take shelter in a designated storm shelter or an interior room.
  • If you are trapped by flooding, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, hurricanes

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

Questions people ask

Is Orleans Parish at risk of hurricanes?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates hurricane risk in Orleans Parish Very High compared with other US counties, with a score of 99.6[8]. FEMA estimates hurricane Expected Annual Loss at $222.9 million a year[8].
Is Orleans Parish at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High (score 93.5)[9] and coastal flooding risk Relatively Moderate (score 81.2)[17]. NFIP paid $7.30 billion for flood losses in the parish from 1978 to 2026, by a HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA data[3].
How many disasters have been declared in Orleans Parish?
OpenFEMA lists 35 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Orleans Parish since 1998, including 19 major disaster declarations[2].
Does Orleans Parish get tornadoes?
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center tornado database records 24 tornadoes that touched Orleans Parish from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties (score 71.5)[19].
How can I check if an address in Orleans Parish is in a flood zone?
Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, the official source for flood maps, or ask the local floodplain manager[27]. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of a single address[27].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Orleans Parish is $304.1 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively High, score 97.8). Of this, buildings account for $260.2 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $43.6... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 35 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Orleans Parish since 1998 (19 major disaster, 16 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 26, coastal storm 4, severe ice storm 2, winter storm 1, tornado 1, severe storm 1. Biological... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 127,255 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Orleans Parish, 104,112 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $7.30 billion in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 24 recorded tornadoes touched Orleans Parish. The strongest were rated EF3 (most recent of them on 2022-03-22). 2 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2022-12-14. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Orleans Parish is Relatively High, with a Risk Index score of 98.2 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Orleans Parish are hurricane (99.6, Very High), lightning (98.6, Very High), cold wave (97.6, Relatively High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores; FEMA's scores... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  8. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $222.9 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 0.25 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the... FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 93.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $46.7 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 2.68 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record... FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Orleans Parish is Relatively High (score 77.5). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Orleans Parish is Very High (score 99.8). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Very High (score 98.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.0 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 86.36 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 97.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $15.2 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.65 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 97.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $8.1 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 14.23 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 92.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.8 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.21 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 84.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $215,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.75 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), coastal flooding in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 81.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.9 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 3.7514 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 80.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.4 million a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0009 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 71.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.1 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.28 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 64.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $133,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.2 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 56.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $186,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 20.75 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 48.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $34,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0008 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 46.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $404,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.16 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Orleans Parish: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 18.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $78 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Orleans Parish: avalanche, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  26. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 56,109 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Orleans Parish, out of 108,361 residential structures, a penetration rate of 51.8%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 15,430 residential structures and 17,781... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  27. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  28. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.