Jefferson Parish, LA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Jefferson Parish has experienced 50 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Jefferson Parish's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, lightning, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 168% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (83rd percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Jefferson Parish has been designated in 50 declarations since 1965, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (29), coastal storm (5), flood (5).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Francine |
| 2024 | Hurricane | Hurricane Francine |
| 2023 | Other | Seawater Intrusion |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
| 2021 | Coastal Storm | Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Ida |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
Showing the 10 most recent of 50 total declarations since 1965.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 27.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 96 | 58 | 0 | $39.8M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very High | 95.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 78 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 97.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 72.2 | 12 | 0 | $51.1M |
| Hurricane | Very High | 99.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively High | 96.4 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 63.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 85.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 89.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 96.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very High | 98.6 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 50 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 28.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Jefferson Parish ranks in the 83rd percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 83rd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 83rd | High |
| Household characteristics | 86th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 87th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 51st | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 28th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 38th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 2.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 81 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 22 in 2016–20 vs 59 in 2021–25 (+168% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Sea level & coastal flooding
Measured at the Grand Isle NOAA tide gauge, the nearest long-term station to Jefferson Parish — not modeled, directly measured water levels.
Projected days per year of high-tide flooding, by NOAA's severity tiers based on how far water rises above the normal high tide: minor (road closures, stormwater backup — disruptive, not damaging), moderate (can damage homes and businesses), and major (threat to life and property, often requires evacuation).
| Decade | Minor | Moderate | Major |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 25 | 1 | 0 |
| 2050 | 200 | 20 | 1 |
| 2070 | 360 | 235 | 15 |
| 2100 | 365 | 365 | 360 |
Projected flood days per year under NOAA's intermediate emissions scenario — the 2022 interagency Sea Level Rise Technical Report, the same federal dataset commercial climate-risk products are built on. Low/high scenario range and monthly detail: NOAA Tides & Currents.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Jefferson Parish?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana are hurricane, lightning, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Has Jefferson Parish received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Jefferson Parish has received 50 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (29 declarations).
Has Jefferson Parish had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Jefferson Parish include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Tropical Storm Francine (2024), Hurricane Francine (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1965.
How does Jefferson Parish's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Orleans Parish, LA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Plaquemines Parish, LA has the lowest (Relatively Low). Jefferson Parish is rated Relatively High overall.
How is Jefferson Parish's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Jefferson Parish's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Jefferson Parish's composite score of 99 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 99% of US counties.