Orleans Parish — home to New Orleans — is the most hurricane-vulnerable major urban area in the United States. Sitting mostly below sea level and surrounded by Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River, the parish requires an elaborate levee and flood barrier system for basic protection. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused catastrophic levee failures that flooded 80% of the city. Hurricane Ida in 2021 struck as a Category 4, testing the post-Katrina flood protection system to its limits.
// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 10 / 10 Critical Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Hurricane / Storm Surge |
| Secondary Hazard | Flooding |
| FEMA Flood Zone | Zone VE (Critical Risk) |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 75 |
| Last Major Event | Hurricane Ida (2021) |
| Event Frequency | Major event every 2–3 years |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (504) 658-8700 |
| Emergency Shelters | 42 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | I-10 West, I-10 East, US-90 West, US-61 North |
// Recommended Preparedness Gear
Based on Orleans Parish LA's primary hazard profile (Hurricane / Storm Surge), the following gear is recommended for a Critical risk area.
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// County Profile
| County | Orleans Parish LA |
| State | Louisiana (LA) |
| Population | 383997 |
| Area | 169 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | Zone VE (Critical Risk) |