riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Rapides Parish Disaster Risk

Rapides Parish, Louisiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

84th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#22

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

82th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 78% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 69% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 91% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Rapides Parish

Risk Verdict

Rapides Parish has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 84th percentile nationally. While not in the highest tier, this county faces meaningful hazard exposure. Residents are encouraged to understand their specific risks and maintain emergency supplies.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Rapides Parish, scoring in the 91th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 82th percentile. Additional hazards include wildfire (78th), earthquake (74th), tornado (69th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Rapides 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

Rapides Parish is significantly riskier than the average county in Louisiana. Its composite risk score is 21.9 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

Is your home insured against Rapides 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 Rapides Parish, LA?
Rapides Parish has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 84th 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 Rapides Parish?
Rapides Parish is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (91th percentile), flooding (82th percentile), wildfire (78th percentile), earthquake (74th percentile), tornado (69th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 91th 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 Rapides Parish risk compare to the Louisiana average?
Rapides Parish's composite risk percentile is 84th, compared to the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Rapides Parish faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Louisiana.
Is Rapides Parish at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Rapides Parish's hurricane risk is at the 91th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Rapides Parish is at the 82th 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 Rapides Parish higher risk than average?
Rapides Parish's composite risk score of 84th percentile is above the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by hurricane exposure (91th percentile), along with flooding and wildfire and earthquake and tornado 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

Vermilion Parish

Louisiana

+0.5

Relatively Moderate

85th percentile

St. Charles Parish

Louisiana

+0.8

Relatively Moderate

85th percentile

Washington Parish

Louisiana

+1.2

Relatively Moderate

86th 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 Rapides Parish

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score