FEMA Records
39
Very high volume
Louisiana · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Orleans Parish, LA
39 FEMA disaster declarations (1998-2026), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively High. Most common hazard: Hurricane.
- 39
- FEMA declarations
- 20
- Major disasters
- 98
- NRI risk · Relatively High
- Hurricane
- Top hazard
The verdict
Orleans Parish has a nationally busy FEMA history: 39 declarations, more than 96% of counties in this registry. But the state comparison tempers that reading: the total is 6% below the Louisiana county mean. FEMA's separate National Risk Index places the county in the riskiest 2%; that score models loss and vulnerability rather than counting declarations.
- Riskiest 2%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively High
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 39
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 127,247
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed
FEMA's National Risk Index and its declaration registry are separate measures. This county's registry includes Major Disaster (DR) and Emergency (EM) records; an EM authorizes a narrower set of federal assistance than a DR.
How does Orleans Parish compare?
Orleans Parish vs. all counties in this dataset
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time
39 Top 4% higher than 96% of 3,266 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-03
Orleans Parish's FEMA Risk Index score
FEMA National Risk Index composite score vs. the Louisiana county average
What does Orleans Parish's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
FEMA's NFIP table contains a substantial paid-claim history for this county: 127,247 claims and $7.3B in payments. PlainHazard labels 500 or more claims a heavy registry record; that is a reporting bucket, not an official FEMA risk grade. The average paid claim was $57.4K. NFIP totals exclude uninsured flood losses and do not measure how many properties currently carry a policy.
Start with the state benchmark: a Louisiana county averages 41.4 federal declaration records, while Orleans Parish has 39. The gap is 6% below that mean. Fewer entries indicate a quieter history of recorded federal actions, not immunity from a hazard and not a prediction about what happens next.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 98.3/100 (Relatively High). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively High (roughly $304.1M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Relatively High and community resilience Very High, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Hurricane stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Very High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at roughly once every 4 years here, based on 69 historical events on record.
Declaration frequency
Nationally, Orleans Parish's 39 FEMA records form a high-volume history; within Louisiana, however, the count is 6% below the county mean. 20 entries carry the Major Disaster classification. The largest incident group is Hurricane, appearing 26 times. The full 28-year record averages 1.4 declarations annually. A DR label alone does not say whether Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, or both followed.
73 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Orleans Parish, LA · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite from FEMA declaration history only on the county surface (this DB has no county-level NOAA damage row) . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) Very High
28/30
39 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.9x national county average)
County Disaster Density Moderate
12/25
39 declarations (0.9x state county average of 41)
Major Disaster Share High
13/25
20 of 39 declarations are major disasters (51%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
20/20
8 different disaster types declared in Orleans Parish
Historical Declaration Activity
Activity Band
High
vs. Louisiana Avg
-6%
State avg: 41.4
vs. National Avg
+88%
National avg: 20.7
Avg Per Year
1.4
Over 28 years
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Orleans Parish
How to read this radar
Each axis: NRI risk rating (Very Low-Very High) on a 0-100 scale. Rounder = broad exposure; spiky = one or two hazards dominate.
Major Disaster share
51%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
98
Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Orleans Parish?
FEMA's National Risk Index models a historical event count and an annualized frequency for each hazard type. Most hazards are expressed as modeled occurrences per year; FEMA expresses drought and heat-wave frequency as event-days per year. These modeled frequencies are not forecasts.
| Hazard | NRI Risk Rating | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Very High | roughly once every 4 years |
| Lightning | Very High | an average of 86 times per year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | roughly once every 2 years |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 14 modeled event-days per year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | an average of 2.7 times per year |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | an average of 1.2 times per year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 1 years |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | an average of 3.8 times per year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | roughly once every 1,156 years |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 4 years |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 5 years |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 21 modeled event-days per year |
| Wildfire | Very Low | roughly once every 1,324 years |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | an average of 1.2 times per year |
| Landslide | Very Low | roughly once every 38 years |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Hurricane 26
Coastal Storm 4
Other 2
Severe Ice Storm 2
Biological 2
Winter Storm 1
Tornado 1
Severe Storm 1
What Hurricane declarations mean here
Hurricane is the most frequent declaration type on Orleans Parish's federal record, 67% of its declarations. Atlantic tropical systems run on a defined season, 1 June to 30 November, with most activity concentrated between August and October; Pacific and territorial basins run on their own calendars. A single named storm routinely produces one declaration number covering a long corridor of counties at once, well inland as well as on the coast, which is why an affected county's count can jump by several in one year without several separate events having occurred.
One practical distinction matters when reading these records: a tropical declaration usually bundles wind, storm surge and inland rainfall flooding under a single incident, but the insurance behind them is split. Wind damage falls to property insurers, while flood and surge damage is covered only under a separate National Flood Insurance Program policy. That is why a county can show heavy declaration activity and a comparatively small NFIP claims record, or the reverse.
Declaration counts describe past federal action. They are a record of what was declared, not a forecast of future hazard probability.
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Major Disaster - 20 51.3%
of all 39 declarations
Emergency - 19 48.7%
of all 39 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 9 | |
| 2020 | 6 | |
| 2019 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 2 | |
| 2008 | 3 | |
| 2007 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 4 | |
| 2004 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 1 | |
Show 2 earlier declaration years
| 2001 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 39 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 39 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3638 | SEVERE WINTER STORM | EM | Winter Storm | 2026-01-24 |
| 4817 | HURRICANE FRANCINE | DR | Hurricane | 2024-09-16 |
| 3614 | TROPICAL STORM FRANCINE | EM | Hurricane | 2024-09-10 |
| 3600 | SEAWATER INTRUSION | EM | Other | 2023-09-27 |
| 3574 | TROPICAL STORM NICHOLAS | EM | Coastal Storm | 2021-09-13 |
| 4611 | HURRICANE IDA | DR | Hurricane | 2021-08-29 |
| 3568 | TROPICAL STORM IDA | EM | Hurricane | 2021-08-27 |
| 4590 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS | DR | Severe Ice Storm | 2021-03-09 |
| 3556 | SEVERE WINTER STORM | EM | Severe Ice Storm | 2021-02-18 |
| 4577 | HURRICANE ZETA | DR | Hurricane | 2021-01-12 |
| 3549 | TROPICAL STORM ZETA | EM | Hurricane | 2020-10-27 |
| 4570 | HURRICANE DELTA | DR | Hurricane | 2020-10-16 |
| 3547 | HURRICANE DELTA | EM | Hurricane | 2020-10-07 |
| 3543 | HURRICANE SALLY | EM | Hurricane | 2020-09-14 |
| 4559 | HURRICANE LAURA | DR | Hurricane | 2020-08-28 |
| 3538 | TROPICAL STORMS LAURA AND MARCO | EM | Hurricane | 2020-08-23 |
| 3527 | TROPICAL STORM CRISTOBAL | EM | Coastal Storm | 2020-06-07 |
| 4484 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-03-24 |
| 3459 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 4458 | HURRICANE BARRY | DR | Hurricane | 2019-08-27 |
Show 19 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3416 | TROPICAL STORM BARRY | EM | Coastal Storm | 2019-07-11 |
| 3392 | TROPICAL STORM NATE | EM | Hurricane | 2017-10-06 |
| 4300 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS | DR | Tornado | 2017-02-11 |
| 4080 | HURRICANE ISAAC | DR | Hurricane | 2012-08-29 |
| 3347 | TROPICAL STORM ISAAC | EM | Hurricane | 2012-08-27 |
| 1792 | HURRICANE IKE | DR | Hurricane | 2008-09-13 |
| 1786 | HURRICANE GUSTAV | DR | Hurricane | 2008-09-02 |
| 3289 | HURRICANE GUSTAV | EM | Hurricane | 2008-08-29 |
| 1685 | SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES | DR | Severe Storm | 2007-02-23 |
| 1607 | HURRICANE RITA | DR | Hurricane | 2005-09-24 |
| 3260 | HURRICANE RITA | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-21 |
| 1603 | HURRICANE KATRINA | DR | Hurricane | 2005-08-29 |
| 3212 | HURRICANE KATRINA | EM | Hurricane | 2005-08-27 |
| 1548 | HURRICANE IVAN | DR | Hurricane | 2004-09-15 |
| 3172 | LOSS OF SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA | EM | Other | 2003-02-01 |
| 1437 | HURRICANE LILI | DR | Hurricane | 2002-10-03 |
| 1435 | TROPICAL STORM ISIDORE | DR | Hurricane | 2002-09-27 |
| 1380 | TROPICAL STORM ALLISON | DR | Coastal Storm | 2001-06-11 |
| 1246 | HURRICANE GEORGES/TS FRANCES | DR | Hurricane | 1998-09-23 |
Storm Events in Louisiana
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Orleans Parish.
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 3,274 | 12 | 29 | $24.9M |
| Flash Flood | 1,516 | 20 | 17 | $3.9B |
| Hail | 1,224 | 0 | 0 | $49.3M |
| Excessive Heat | 1,183 | 3 | 0 | $0 |
| Heat | 1,106 | 5 | 0 | $0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
127,247
Total Paid
$7.3B
Avg Per Claim
$57.4K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Score: 98.3/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively High
$304.1M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively High
Community Resilience
Very High
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Hurricane Very High
Lightning Very High
Cold Wave Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively High
Riverine Flooding Relatively High
Hail Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Coastal Flooding Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Low
Tornado Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Hurricane
Hurricane exposure in the model bundles the three ways a tropical system does harm, which arrive on different timescales and are insured differently: wind, storm surge on the coast, and rainfall flooding that can reach far inland well after landfall.
For Orleans Parish the two measures on this page point the same way: Hurricane is the county's highest-rated modeled hazard (Very High), and Hurricane declarations also lead its federal record. Where the model and the declaration history agree, the reading is comparatively straightforward, the hazard is both expected and repeatedly realised.
National Risk Index ratings are modeled estimates of expected annual loss, not predictions of what will happen in any given year.
Data-matched county comparisons
Orleans Parish's closest FEMA peer: Butte County, CA
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Orleans Parish. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Orleans Parish shows 39 FEMA declarations, led by Hurricane.
Similar Major-disaster share
Orleans Parish: 20 of 39 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Orleans Parish: NRI composite 98.3 (Relatively High).
How these peers are chosen
Cohort: Published U.S. county equivalents outside the source state or territory. Each metric keeps six ETL candidates; three unique destinations are shown after de-duplicating across axes. Declaration-volume ranking combines count and Major-disaster share and prefers a different leading incident type; Major-share ranks the Major fraction adjusted for volume; NRI ranks the modeled composite score only.
Retained FEMA snapshot feed for Orleans Parish - capture-dated entries only.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Orleans Parish's NFIP claims file (127,247 claims) and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records - this guide separates them from modeled NRI risk.
More PlainHazard guides
- Most disaster-prone counties - U.S. counties ranked by FEMA declaration totals.
- Understanding disaster data - declarations vs storm events vs NRI scores.
- Preparing for natural disasters - household checklist (not county-specific advice).
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Orleans Parish?
The most common disaster type in Orleans Parish is Hurricane, with 26 declarations. Other disaster types include Coastal Storm (4), Other (2), Severe Ice Storm (2).
How does Orleans Parish's FEMA declaration record compare with the Louisiana average?
The typical Louisiana county has 41.4 FEMA declaration records; Orleans Parish has 39, or 6% fewer. Against the national county mean of 20.7, this county's total is 88% higher. The comparison is historical and says nothing about the probability of a future event.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Orleans Parish received?
Orleans Parish has received 20 major disaster declarations, representing 51% of all 39 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Orleans Parish filed?
Orleans Parish has 127,247 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $7.3B in payments, with an average of $57.4K per claim.
What was the worst year for disasters in Orleans Parish?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Orleans Parish was 2021, with 9 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1998 to 2026.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Orleans Parish?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Orleans Parish, Louisiana has an overall risk score of 98.3 out of 100 (Relatively High). On social vulnerability the county rates Relatively High; on community resilience, Very High. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively High, representing $304.1M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Orleans Parish?
FEMA's NRI data points to Orleans Parish as of the latest release is Hurricane (risk rating: Very High). Other significant hazards include Lightning (Very High) and Cold Wave (Relatively High). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts hurricane here at roughly once every 4 years, drawn from 69 historical events on record. The underlying methodology weighs historical event frequency against exposed assets and community vulnerability.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Flood insurance data comes from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA claims dataset.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
What this means for Orleans Parish
Against a Louisiana county mean of 41 declarations, Orleans Parish, LA records 39, or 6% fewer. PlainHazard classifies that historical total as high activity.
- Major Disaster is the largest group (20 of 39) in a declaration history that remains below its state benchmark; frequency here is not a forecast. Louisiana overview
- Nationally the county exceeds 96% of recorded county totals, but its own Louisiana benchmark is higher. The ranking keeps those two contexts separate. Most-disaster rankings
- The large NFIP claims file and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records; the guide explains where they overlap and where they do not. Disaster-data guide
A below-average federal record is not a safety guarantee. Use National Weather Service alerts and local emergency-management notices for present conditions, not this historical comparison.
PlainHazard derives this profile from FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries and National Risk Index data. The declaration comparison covers 3,266 U.S. counties and county equivalents in this database, refreshed as of 2026-08-03. Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 - all federally-declared disasters for this county. fema.gov/openfema/disaster-declarations
- FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) - per-county per-hazard risk ratings and expected annual loss. hazards.fema.gov/nri
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database - state-level storm/severe-weather event records, 2015-2025. ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainHazard Editorial
Verify with FEMA → · Verify with FEMA NRI → · Verify with NOAA →
Every figure on PlainHazard is rendered directly from FEMA federal disaster data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or national statistics report, the data & editorial changelog, or report a data error.