St. John the Baptist Parish Disaster Risk

St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

82th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#24

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

75th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 75% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 12% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 80% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 37% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively High

Higher than 96% of US counties

Risk Advisory: St. John the Baptist Parish

Risk Verdict

St. John the Baptist Parish has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 82th 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 St. John the Baptist Parish, scoring in the 96th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 80th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (75th), earthquake (37th), wildfire (12th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, St. John the Baptist 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. John the Baptist Parish is significantly riskier than the average county in Louisiana. Its composite risk score is 19.2 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. John the Baptist Parish, LA?
St. John the Baptist Parish has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 82th 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. John the Baptist Parish?
St. John the Baptist Parish is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (96th percentile), tornado (80th percentile), flooding (75th percentile), earthquake (37th percentile), wildfire (12th 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. John the Baptist Parish risk compare to the Louisiana average?
St. John the Baptist Parish's composite risk percentile is 82th, compared to the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means St. John the Baptist Parish faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Louisiana.
Is St. John the Baptist Parish at risk for hurricane?
Yes, St. John the Baptist 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. John the Baptist Parish is at the 75th 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. John the Baptist Parish higher risk than average?
St. John the Baptist Parish's composite risk score of 82th percentile is above the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by hurricane exposure (96th percentile), along with tornado and flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.
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.