Natural Disaster Risk in Jonesboro

Natural Hazard Profile: Jonesboro, Louisiana

Jonesboro, in Jackson County, is a town of roughly 8,026 residents situated in the interior eastern United States. Its humid subtropical climate brings very hot summers, mild winters, and exceptionally high humidity, and in particular a lengthy hurricane and tropical storm season. These conditions collectively define the natural hazard environment that Jonesboro residents and property owners must navigate.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Jonesboro carries an overall risk score of 5.2/10, placing it in the moderate category. Ice storm risk tops the local winter hazard profile, with freezing rain events capable of coating roads, trees, and power lines with ice that causes widespread outages and dangerous travel conditions. The area also faces notable exposure to hurricane and heat.

Within Louisiana, Jonesboro's risk is, slightly below the 6.1/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Jackson County identifies ice storm as the foremost hazard, followed by hurricane and heat. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

With a moderate risk rating, Jonesboro residents are well-served by maintaining standard preparedness practices — an emergency supply kit, awareness of local hazard seasonality, and insurance that covers the top local risks. Periodic review of coverage for ice storm is recommended.