riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

St. Helena Parish Disaster Risk

St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

36th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#47

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

35th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 35% 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 69% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 28% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 80% of US counties

Risk Advisory: St. Helena Parish

Risk Verdict

St. Helena Parish has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 36th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for St. Helena Parish, scoring in the 80th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 69th percentile. Additional hazards include wildfire (53th), flood (35th), earthquake (28th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, St. Helena 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 tornado 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. Helena Parish is notably safer than the average county in Louisiana. Its composite risk score is 26.1 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in St. Helena Parish, LA?
St. Helena Parish has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 36th 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. Helena Parish?
St. Helena Parish is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (80th percentile), tornado (69th percentile), wildfire (53th percentile), flooding (35th percentile), earthquake (28th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 80th 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. Helena Parish risk compare to the Louisiana average?
St. Helena Parish's composite risk percentile is 36th, compared to the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means St. Helena Parish faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Louisiana.
Is St. Helena Parish at risk for hurricane?
Yes, St. Helena Parish's hurricane risk is at the 80th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, St. Helena Parish is at the 35th 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.
Is St. Helena Parish a safe place to live?
St. Helena Parish's composite risk score of 36th percentile is below the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 80th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Franklin Parish

Louisiana

-0.4

Very Low

36th percentile

Richland Parish

Louisiana

+0.4

Very Low

37th percentile

West Feliciana Parish

Louisiana

-1.6

Very Low

35th 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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