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Calhoun County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
75th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$3Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Calhoun County, Arkansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 75th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $2.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $585 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (Bunker Fire). Only 4 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Calhoun County

$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.

Earthquake

Very Low
$412,198 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 350 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Tornado

Very Low
$384,509 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low6.9
$1M
EarthquakeVery Low53.1
$412K
TornadoVery Low22.8
$385K
Ice stormModerate64.9
$213K
Strong windLow18.7
$211K
Heat waveVery Low29.2
$162K
LightningVery Low15.8
$68K
HailVery Low8.9
$34K
HurricaneVery Low31.5
$20K
Cold waveVery Low4.8
$17K
Winter weatherVery Low6.0
$6K
DroughtVery Low20.3
$5K
WildfireVery Low7.6
$3K
LandslideVery Low7.9
$21

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 low 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 Calhoun County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Hurricane3
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm2
Winter Storm2
Tornado1

Most recent

Sep 15, 2026Bunker FireFire management
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Apr 4, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
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 21
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 2008Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
May 15, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1979TornadoMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 280 storm reports in Calhoun County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $11.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 8, 1979.

20tornadoes
76hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
96damaging thunderstorm winds
84floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 8, 1979F3–1 / 0
Oct 29, 2009EF2East Camden0 / 0
Oct 28, 1955F2–0 / 0
May 10, 1968F2–0 / 0
Oct 29, 2009EF1East Camden0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 8, 1979Tornado–$3M
Oct 29, 2009TornadoEast Camden$2M
May 1, 2011FloodThornton$1M
May 4, 2009FloodDelhi$600K
May 15, 2007LightningWoodberry$500K
Sep 2, 2008Flash FloodLocust Bayou$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 11, 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 10 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Calhoun County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Laura (2020), with top winds near 65 mph about 57 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
10tropical storms
2020most recent: Laura

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 65 mph57 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Jul 7, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Oct 13, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 65 mph57 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Sep 22, 1920UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Sep 30, 1905UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 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 Calhoun County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$148,394paid on 9 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $90,565 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 Calhoun County

$110,700median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
28.7%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; 2,466 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
Ouachita CountyLow27
Bradley CountyVery Low24
Cleveland CountyVery Low19
Dallas CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Calhoun County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Calhoun County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Calhoun County, about $1.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $412,198.

How many federal disasters has Calhoun County had?

Calhoun County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Bunker Fire in September 2026.

Is Calhoun County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 75th 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 Calhoun County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Calhoun 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 Calhoun County had?

NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Calhoun County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 8, 1979. The weather service has also logged 76 hail reports and 84 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Calhoun County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 10 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Calhoun County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Laura (2020), 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.