Home › Arkansas › Bradley County

Bradley County, Arkansas

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
63rd of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$6Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Bradley County, Arkansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 69% of US counties. It ranks 63rd of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $5.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $547 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 17 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.4 million on 59 claims here, including $497,000 for floods in 2018.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Bradley County

$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 20 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 330 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low24.5
$2M
Heat waveModerate85.1
$1M
EarthquakeLow81.2
$1M
TornadoLow53.3
$794K
Ice stormHigh85.5
$358K
Strong windLow50.4
$320K
DroughtLow54.6
$117K
LightningLow36.9
$82K
HurricaneVery Low54.4
$66K
Cold waveVery Low11.6
$59K
HailVery Low25.3
$54K
Winter weatherVery Low19.6
$10K
WildfireVery Low27.4
$7K
LandslideVery Low19.7
$64

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Bradley County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood3
Tornado3
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Winter Storm2

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Apr 4, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Jul 10, 2020Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
May 6, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 4, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 24
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 2008Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 13, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Jan 23, 1999Ar Severe Weather 1-21-99Major disaster
Apr 14, 1997Flooding, Severe StormsMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
May 30, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1979TornadoMajor disaster
Apr 1, 1975Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Arkansas also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 269 storm reports in Bradley County since 1954, with 8 deaths and 60 injuries and about $33.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 28, 1975.

21tornadoes
89hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
115damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 28, 1975F4–51 / 7
Apr 8, 1979F3–0 / 0
Feb 9, 1965F3–1 / 0
Jun 20, 1972F3–0 / 0
Feb 24, 2007EF2Ingalls6 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 28, 1975Tornado–$25M
Apr 8, 1979Tornado–$3M
Sep 2, 2008Flash FloodBanks$2M
May 1, 2011FloodWarren$750K
Dec 24, 2009FloodBlue Spgs$500K
Dec 24, 2009Flash FloodBlue Spgs$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 28, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1865, 0 hurricanes and 12 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Bradley County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1909, with top winds near 65 mph about 54 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
12tropical storms
2020most recent: Laura

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph54 mi
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Jul 7, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 65 mph63 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Sep 22, 1920UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Bradley County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (17 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.4 millionpaid on 59 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $497,060 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Bradley County

$94,800median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
57%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.5%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 5,060 housing units.

Compare in Arkansas

All 75 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Pulaski CountyHighInland flooding
Benton CountyModerateInland flooding
Washington CountyModerateHeat wave
Sebastian CountyModerateInland flooding
Faulkner CountyModerateTornado
Saline CountyLowInland flooding
Craighead CountyModerateEarthquake
Garland CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Union CountyLow19
Ashley CountyLow13
Drew CountyVery Low18
Cleveland CountyVery Low19
Calhoun CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Bradley County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Bradley County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Bradley County, about $1.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Bradley County had?

Bradley County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Bradley County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 63rd highest of 75 in Arkansas. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Bradley County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Bradley County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Bradley County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Bradley County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 28, 1975. The weather service has also logged 89 hail reports and 39 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Bradley County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 12 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Bradley County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1909, with winds near 65 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.