riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

St. James Parish Disaster Risk

St. James Parish, Louisiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

71th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#31

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

83th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 5% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 68% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 30% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 94% of US counties

Risk Advisory: St. James Parish

Risk Verdict

St. James Parish shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 71th 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. James Parish, scoring in the 94th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 83th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (68th), earthquake (30th), wildfire (5th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, St. James 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. James Parish is significantly riskier than the average county in Louisiana. Its composite risk score is 8.7 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. James Parish, LA?
St. James Parish has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 71th 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. James Parish?
St. James Parish is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (94th percentile), flooding (83th percentile), tornado (68th percentile), earthquake (30th percentile), wildfire (5th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 94th 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. James Parish risk compare to the Louisiana average?
St. James Parish's composite risk percentile is 71th, compared to the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means St. James Parish faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Louisiana.
Is St. James Parish at risk for hurricane?
Yes, St. James Parish's hurricane risk is at the 94th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, St. James Parish is at the 83th 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. James Parish higher risk than average?
St. James Parish's composite risk score of 71th percentile is above the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by hurricane exposure (94th 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

Assumption Parish

Louisiana

-0.7

Relatively Low

70th percentile

Webster Parish

Louisiana

-1.5

Relatively Low

70th percentile

Plaquemines Parish

Louisiana

+1.9

Relatively Low

73th 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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