riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Lafayette Parish Disaster Risk

Lafayette Parish, Louisiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively High

National Percentile

95th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#6

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

93th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 93% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 53% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 65% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 68% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively High

Higher than 98% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Lafayette Parish

Risk Verdict

Lafayette Parish carries a relatively high overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 95th percentile nationally. This places it among the most at-risk counties in the United States. Residents should prioritize comprehensive emergency preparedness, including reviewing insurance coverage and having an evacuation plan.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Lafayette Parish, scoring in the 98th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 93th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (68th), tornado (65th), wildfire (53th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Lafayette Parish residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Lafayette Parish is significantly riskier than the average county in Louisiana. Its composite risk score is 32.8 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

Is your home insured against Lafayette Parish's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Lafayette Parish, LA?
Lafayette Parish has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively High, placing it in the 95th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Lafayette Parish?
Lafayette Parish is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (98th percentile), flooding (93th percentile), earthquake (68th percentile), tornado (65th percentile), wildfire (53th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 98th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Lafayette Parish risk compare to the Louisiana average?
Lafayette Parish's composite risk percentile is 95th, compared to the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Lafayette Parish faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Louisiana.
Is Lafayette Parish at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Lafayette Parish's hurricane risk is at the 98th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Lafayette Parish is at the 93th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Lafayette Parish higher risk than average?
Lafayette Parish's composite risk score of 95th percentile is above the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by hurricane exposure (98th percentile), along with flooding and earthquake and tornado and wildfire risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Calcasieu Parish

Louisiana

+0.5

Relatively High

96th percentile

Livingston Parish

Louisiana

-0.7

Relatively High

94th percentile

Terrebonne Parish

Louisiana

-0.9

Relatively Moderate

94th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

Explore more data for Lafayette Parish

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score