Out of 113 counties with earthquake data, these are the counties with the highest seismic risk.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Counties ranked | 113 |
| Avg earthquake risk (top 100) | 2.4/50 |
Top 100 Counties
| Rank | County | State | Risk Score | Rating | Expected Annual Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orleans | Louisiana | 5.7/50 | Relatively Low | $341K |
| 2 | Ouachita | Louisiana | 5.4/50 | Relatively Low | $393K |
| 3 | Ouachita Parish | Louisiana | 5.4/50 | Relatively Low | $393K |
| 4 | Caddo | Louisiana | 5/50 | Relatively Low | $262K |
| 5 | Jefferson | Louisiana | 4.7/50 | Relatively Low | $344K |
| 6 | Jefferson Parish | Louisiana | 4.7/50 | Relatively Low | $344K |
| 7 | Caddo Parish | Louisiana | 4.2/50 | Relatively Low | $262K |
| 8 | East Baton Rouge | Louisiana | 4.1/50 | Relatively Low | $366K |
| 9 | Morehouse | Louisiana | 4.1/50 | Relatively Low | $87K |
| 10 | Morehouse Parish | Louisiana | 4.1/50 | Relatively Low | $87K |
| 11 | Union Parish | Louisiana | 3.8/50 | Relatively Low | $393K |
| 12 | Lafayette Parish | Louisiana | 3.7/50 | Relatively Low | $344K |
| 13 | Rapides | Louisiana | 3.5/50 | Very Low | $115K |
| 14 | Caldwell Parish | Louisiana | 3.5/50 | Very Low | $115K |
| 15 | Richland | Louisiana | 3.4/50 | Very Low | $69K |
| 16 | Rapides Parish | Louisiana | 3.3/50 | Very Low | $115K |
| 17 | West Carroll | Louisiana | 3.3/50 | Very Low | $54K |
| 18 | Richland Parish | Louisiana | 3.2/50 | Very Low | $53K |
| 19 | Franklin | Louisiana | 3.2/50 | Very Low | $53K |
| 20 | Franklin Parish | Louisiana | 3.2/50 | Very Low | $53K |
| 21 | East Carroll | Louisiana | 3.2/50 | Very Low | $41K |
| 22 | East Carroll Parish | Louisiana | 3.2/50 | Very Low | $41K |
| 23 | Madison | Louisiana | 3.2/50 | Very Low | $31K |
| 24 | Bossier | Louisiana | 2.9/50 | Very Low | $151K |
| 25 | Bossier Parish | Louisiana | 2.9/50 | Very Low | $151K |
| 26 | Lincoln | Louisiana | 2.9/50 | Very Low | $60K |
| 27 | Webster | Louisiana | 2.8/50 | Very Low | $46K |
| 28 | St. Landry | Louisiana | 2.8/50 | Very Low | $45K |
| 29 | Tensas | Louisiana | 2.8/50 | Very Low | $12K |
| 30 | Tensas Parish | Louisiana | 2.8/50 | Very Low | $12K |
| 31 | Lafayette | Louisiana | 2.7/50 | Very Low | $147K |
| 32 | Tangipahoa | Louisiana | 2.7/50 | Very Low | $83K |
| 33 | Tangipahoa Parish | Louisiana | 2.7/50 | Very Low | $83K |
| 34 | Calcasieu | Louisiana | 2.6/50 | Very Low | $93K |
| 35 | Cameron Parish | Louisiana | 2.6/50 | Very Low | $93K |
| 36 | Avoyelles | Louisiana | 2.6/50 | Very Low | $33K |
| 37 | Avoyelles Parish | Louisiana | 2.6/50 | Very Low | $33K |
| 38 | Concordia Parish | Louisiana | 2.6/50 | Very Low | $29K |
| 39 | Concordia | Louisiana | 2.6/50 | Very Low | $29K |
| 40 | St. Tammany Parish | Louisiana | 2.5/50 | Very Low | $167K |
| 41 | St. Landry Parish | Louisiana | 2.4/50 | Very Low | $45K |
| 42 | St. Tammany | Louisiana | 2.3/50 | Very Low | $167K |
| 43 | Union | Louisiana | 2.3/50 | Very Low | $37K |
| 44 | Natchitoches | Louisiana | 2.3/50 | Very Low | $27K |
| 45 | Washington | Louisiana | 2.2/50 | Very Low | $21K |
| 46 | Iberville Parish | Louisiana | 2.1/50 | Very Low | $366K |
| 47 | Iberia | Louisiana | 2.1/50 | Very Low | $40K |
| 48 | St. Mary | Louisiana | 2.1/50 | Very Low | $33K |
| 49 | Natchitoches Parish | Louisiana | 2.1/50 | Very Low | $32K |
| 50 | Acadia | Louisiana | 2.1/50 | Very Low | $32K |
| 51 | Terrebonne Parish | Louisiana | 2/50 | Very Low | $67K |
| 52 | St. Mary Parish | Louisiana | 2/50 | Very Low | $67K |
| 53 | Terrebonne | Louisiana | 2/50 | Very Low | $67K |
| 54 | Evangeline Parish | Louisiana | 2/50 | Very Low | $33K |
| 55 | Sabine Parish | Louisiana | 2/50 | Very Low | $27K |
| 56 | Evangeline | Louisiana | 2/50 | Very Low | $24K |
| 57 | Vermilion Parish | Louisiana | 1.9/50 | Very Low | $40K |
| 58 | Iberia Parish | Louisiana | 1.9/50 | Very Low | $40K |
| 59 | Acadia Parish | Louisiana | 1.9/50 | Very Low | $32K |
| 60 | Bienville Parish | Louisiana | 1.9/50 | Very Low | $27K |
| 61 | Claiborne | Louisiana | 1.9/50 | Very Low | $19K |
| 62 | Lafourche Parish | Louisiana | 1.8/50 | Very Low | $67K |
| 63 | Lafourche | Louisiana | 1.8/50 | Very Low | $49K |
| 64 | Vermilion | Louisiana | 1.8/50 | Very Low | $32K |
| 65 | Jackson | Louisiana | 1.8/50 | Very Low | $16K |
| 66 | De Soto Parish | Louisiana | 1.8/50 | Very Low | $14K |
| 67 | De Soto | Louisiana | 1.8/50 | Very Low | $14K |
| 68 | Bienville | Louisiana | 1.8/50 | Very Low | $11K |
| 69 | Catahoula Parish | Louisiana | 1.7/50 | Very Low | $29K |
| 70 | Grant Parish | Louisiana | 1.6/50 | Very Low | $27K |
| 71 | St. Martin | Louisiana | 1.6/50 | Very Low | $24K |
| 72 | St. Martin Parish | Louisiana | 1.6/50 | Very Low | $24K |
| 73 | Caldwell | Louisiana | 1.6/50 | Very Low | $17K |
| 74 | Jefferson Davis | Louisiana | 1.6/50 | Very Low | $16K |
| 75 | Jefferson Davis Parish | Louisiana | 1.6/50 | Very Low | $16K |
| 76 | Sabine | Louisiana | 1.6/50 | Very Low | $15K |
| 77 | St. Bernard | Louisiana | 1.5/50 | Very Low | $29K |
| 78 | St. Bernard Parish | Louisiana | 1.5/50 | Very Low | $29K |
| 79 | Iberville | Louisiana | 1.5/50 | Very Low | $21K |
| 80 | Pointe Coupee | Louisiana | 1.5/50 | Very Low | $14K |
| 81 | St. Helena | Louisiana | 1.5/50 | Very Low | $7K |
| 82 | Livingston | Louisiana | 1.4/50 | Very Low | $66K |
| 83 | Livingston Parish | Louisiana | 1.4/50 | Very Low | $66K |
| 84 | St. James Parish | Louisiana | 1.4/50 | Very Low | $26K |
| 85 | Winn | Louisiana | 1.4/50 | Very Low | $14K |
| 86 | St. Charles Parish | Louisiana | 1.3/50 | Very Low | $67K |
| 87 | Catahoula | Louisiana | 1.3/50 | Very Low | $16K |
| 88 | La Salle Parish | Louisiana | 1.3/50 | Very Low | $16K |
| 89 | St. James | Louisiana | 1.3/50 | Very Low | $14K |
| 90 | Pointe Coupee Parish | Louisiana | 1.3/50 | Very Low | $14K |
| 91 | Assumption Parish | Louisiana | 1.3/50 | Very Low | $13K |
| 92 | Assumption | Louisiana | 1.3/50 | Very Low | $13K |
| 93 | Ascension Parish | Louisiana | 1.2/50 | Very Low | $60K |
| 94 | Ascension | Louisiana | 1.2/50 | Very Low | $60K |
| 95 | St. Charles | Louisiana | 1.2/50 | Very Low | $29K |
| 96 | Vernon Parish | Louisiana | 1.2/50 | Very Low | $23K |
| 97 | Vernon | Louisiana | 1.2/50 | Very Low | $23K |
| 98 | Allen | Louisiana | 1.2/50 | Very Low | $11K |
| 99 | LaSalle | Louisiana | 1.2/50 | Very Low | $10K |
| 100 | East Feliciana | Louisiana | 1.2/50 | Very Low | $10K |
* = New Madrid Seismic Zone
Methodology
County rankings for Louisiana based on average FEMA earthquake risk score.
Data sources: FEMA National Risk Index, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Last updated: 2026-06-04.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is earthquake risk calculated?
Earthquake risk scores (0-50) are from the FEMA National Risk Index, which combines seismic hazard exposure, community vulnerability, and expected losses. Higher scores indicate greater earthquake risk to people and property.
What is the New Madrid Seismic Zone?
The New Madrid Seismic Zone spans parts of Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Mississippi. The 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes (estimated M7.5-7.9) were among the strongest in U.S. history. This region remains seismically active, and most buildings were not designed to withstand major earthquakes.
Does earthquake risk affect home insurance?
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover earthquake damage. Separate earthquake insurance is required, and premiums vary significantly based on location, construction type, and proximity to fault lines.