riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Union Parish Disaster Risk

Union Parish, Louisiana

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

50th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#43

of 64 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

58th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 58% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 45% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 65% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 53% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 64% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Union Parish

Risk Verdict

Union Parish shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 50th 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

Tornado risk is the dominant hazard for Union Parish, scoring in the 65th percentile nationally. It is followed by hurricane risk at the 64th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (58th), earthquake (53th), wildfire (45th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Union Parish residents should identify a safe room or interior space on the lowest floor, have a NOAA weather radio, and practice tornado drills with your household. Secondary risks such as hurricane 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

Union Parish is notably safer than the average county in Louisiana. Its composite risk score is 12.7 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 Union Parish, LA?
Union Parish has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 50th 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 Union Parish?
Union Parish is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (65th percentile), hurricane (64th percentile), flooding (58th percentile), earthquake (53th percentile), wildfire (45th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 65th 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 Union Parish risk compare to the Louisiana average?
Union Parish's composite risk percentile is 50th, compared to the Louisiana state average of 62th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Union Parish faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Louisiana.
Is Union Parish at risk for tornado?
Yes, Union Parish's tornado risk is at the 65th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Union Parish is at the 58th 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 Union Parish a safe place to live?
Union Parish's composite risk score of 50th 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 tornado at the 65th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Allen Parish

Louisiana

+1.0

Relatively Low

51th percentile

Morehouse Parish

Louisiana

+5.6

Relatively Low

55th percentile

Beauregard Parish

Louisiana

+5.9

Relatively Low

56th 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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