riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

St. Charles Parish Disaster Risk

St. Charles Parish, Louisiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

85th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#20

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

95th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively High

Higher than 95% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 18% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 77% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 35% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively High

Higher than 96% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana

St. Charles: Louisiana's Riskiest Parish

St. Charles Parish scores 85.05, significantly exceeding the national average and earning a relatively moderate risk rating—the highest composite score in Louisiana. The parish confronts extreme hurricane (95.95) and flood risks (95.40), combining to create exceptional disaster exposure.

Highest Risk in Louisiana

St. Charles Parish ranks as Louisiana's riskiest parish with a composite score of 85.05, 36% above the state average of 62.37. The parish's position directly south of New Orleans along the Mississippi River and Gulf Coast creates unmatched exposure to hurricanes, storm surge, and flooding.

Most Perilous in the Region

St. Charles Parish (85.05) significantly exceeds St. John the Baptist Parish (81.52) to the north and St. James Parish (71.02) to the northwest. Only the southernmost Louisiana coastal parishes rival St. Charles's composite risk score, reflecting its extreme position on the Gulf of Mexico.

Flood and Hurricane Crisis Risks

St. Charles faces North America's highest hurricane risk (95.95) and flood risk (95.40)—both near-maximum values. Tornado risk (77.19) compounds the parish's triple threat, making multi-hazard preparedness non-negotiable for residents.

Mandatory Multi-Layer Protection Plan

St. Charles residents absolutely must carry homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and consider additional wind or hurricane-specific coverage to close gaps. Elevation, storm-resistant retrofits, and regular evacuation planning are life-safety imperatives—consult FEMA's mitigation resources for your specific property.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in St. Charles Parish

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    96th percentile
  2. #2
    FloodPrepare
    95th percentile
  3. #3
    TornadoPrepare
    77th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: St. Charles Parish

Risk Verdict

At the 85th percentile nationally, St. Charles Parish sits in the upper half of U.S. counties for natural disaster exposure. At this risk level, having a documented household preparedness plan — not just awareness — is the meaningful next step for St. Charles Parish residents.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is St. Charles Parish's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 96th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 95th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include tornado (77th percentile), earthquake (35th percentile), wildfire (18th percentile).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane ranked at the 96th percentile nationally, St. Charles Parish sits in a zone where multi-day supply readiness matters: grid outages after landfalling storms can last one to three weeks in heavily affected areas. Flood, the county's second-ranked hazard at the 95th percentile nationally, represents an additional preparedness consideration for St. Charles Parish independent of hurricane season. Insurance gaps are the most common post-hurricane financial shock: standard homeowners policies typically exclude flood damage and may have a separate wind deductible. St. Charles Parish households benefit from a pre-season insurance review confirming both wind and flood coverage.

Regional Context

The Louisiana county average is 22.7 composite points below St. Charles Parish's score, a gap that reflects the county's elevated position in the state's hazard distribution.

Is your household prepared for St. Charles Parish's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in St. Charles Parish, LA?
St. Charles Parish has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 85th 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. Charles Parish?
St. Charles Parish is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (96th percentile), flooding (95th percentile), tornado (77th percentile), earthquake (35th percentile), wildfire (18th 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. Charles Parish risk compare to the Louisiana average?
St. Charles Parish's composite risk percentile is 85th, compared to the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means St. Charles Parish faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Louisiana.
Is St. Charles Parish at risk for hurricane?
Yes, St. Charles 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. Charles Parish is at the 95th 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. Charles Parish higher risk than average?
St. Charles Parish's composite risk score of 85th 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

Vermilion Parish

Louisiana

-0.3

Relatively Moderate

85th percentile

Washington Parish

Louisiana

+0.5

Relatively Moderate

86th percentile

Rapides Parish

Louisiana

-0.8

Relatively Moderate

84th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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 St. Charles Parish

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score