riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

St. Bernard Parish Disaster Risk

St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

76th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#26

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

74th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 74% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 39% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 51% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 33% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively High

Higher than 96% of US counties

Risk Advisory: St. Bernard Parish

Risk Verdict

St. Bernard Parish shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 76th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for St. Bernard Parish, scoring in the 96th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 74th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (51th), wildfire (39th), earthquake (33th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, St. Bernard 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

St. Bernard Parish is significantly riskier than the average county in Louisiana. Its composite risk score is 13.2 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in St. Bernard Parish, LA?
St. Bernard Parish has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 76th 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 St. Bernard Parish?
St. Bernard Parish is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (96th percentile), flooding (74th percentile), tornado (51th percentile), wildfire (39th percentile), earthquake (33th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 96th 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 St. Bernard Parish risk compare to the Louisiana average?
St. Bernard Parish's composite risk percentile is 76th, compared to the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means St. Bernard Parish faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Louisiana.
Is St. Bernard Parish at risk for hurricane?
Yes, St. Bernard Parish's hurricane risk is at the 96th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, St. Bernard Parish is at the 74th 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 St. Bernard Parish higher risk than average?
St. Bernard Parish's composite risk score of 76th percentile is above the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by hurricane exposure (96th percentile), along with flooding 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

Evangeline Parish

Louisiana

+0.3

Relatively Low

76th percentile

Jefferson Davis Parish

Louisiana

-1.3

Relatively Low

74th percentile

Iberville Parish

Louisiana

-1.9

Relatively Low

74th 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.

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