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Chicot County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
53rd of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$9Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 33homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Chicot County, Arkansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 56% of US counties. It ranks 53rd of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $8.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $872 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 33 homes here carry federal flood insurance (153 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.2 million on 153 claims here, including $2.4 million for floods in 2011.

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

Top risks in Chicot County

$4.2 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.

Drought

Moderate
$950,832 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 17 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$877,987 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 floodingLow49.4
$4M
DroughtModerate88.4
$951K
EarthquakeLow77.9
$878K
TornadoLow50.0
$799K
Strong windModerate67.3
$576K
Cold waveLow46.3
$526K
Heat waveLow61.4
$393K
HurricaneLow65.7
$241K
HailLow49.8
$166K
Ice stormModerate68.7
$131K
LightningLow25.3
$58K
Winter weatherVery Low9.1
$4K
WildfireVery Low8.4
$2K
LandslideVery Low26.7
$146

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm6
Flood4
Hurricane3
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Jun 8, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 30, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingEmergency
May 6, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 2008Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 16
Jun 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 23, 1999Ar Severe Weather 1-21-99Major disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
May 30, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 23, 1988Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor 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 500 storm reports in Chicot County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 49 injuries and about $47.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 20, 1976.

45tornadoes
137hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
224damaging thunderstorm winds
93floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 20, 1976F3–0 / 0
May 2, 2008EF2Ashton0 / 0
Feb 17, 1976F2–36 / 0
Oct 17, 1980F2–0 / 0
Jan 2, 2023EF2Cosgrove0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 3, 2008Flash FloodVaucluse$16M
Sep 3, 2008Flash FloodHarwood$4M
Mar 13, 2016TornadoDermott$3M
May 5, 2011FloodNorcross$2M
Aug 12, 2008Flash FloodArkla$2M
May 2, 2008TornadoAshton$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 8, 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 1888, 0 hurricanes and 11 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Chicot County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1909, with top winds near 70 mph about 49 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
11tropical storms
2020most recent: Delta

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph49 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph58 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph47 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 10, 2020DeltaTropical storm, 40 mph53 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Jun 17, 1934UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Sep 20, 1932UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph47 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 Chicot County

Check your address flood zone ›
3%of homes have federal flood insurance (153 policies)
15.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.2 millionpaid on 153 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $2.4 million 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 Chicot County

$89,100median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
51%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.9%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; 5,108 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
Washington County, MSModerate28
Bolivar County, MSLow22
Morehouse Parish, LALow32
Ashley CountyLow13
Drew CountyVery Low18
Desha CountyVery Low19
West Carroll Parish, LAVery Low29
East Carroll Parish, LAVery Low30

Common questions about Chicot County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Chicot County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Chicot County, about $4.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $950,832.

How many federal disasters has Chicot County had?

Chicot County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Chicot County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 53rd 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 Chicot County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 33 homes in Chicot 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 Chicot County had?

NOAA records list 45 tornadoes in Chicot County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 20, 1976. The weather service has also logged 137 hail reports and 93 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Chicot County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 11 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Chicot County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1909, with winds near 70 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.