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Clark County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
57th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$10Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clark County, Arkansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 59% of US counties. It ranks 57th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and lightning. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $477 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 45 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $891,000 on 32 claims here.

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

Top risks in Clark County

$3.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.9 million 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 65 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow38.1
$4M
TornadoModerate68.4
$2M
LightningHigh92.2
$1M
EarthquakeLow73.1
$775K
Ice stormHigh90.0
$746K
Heat waveLow67.8
$652K
Strong windModerate64.3
$651K
HailLow72.5
$497K
DroughtLow47.6
$99K
Cold waveVery Low12.4
$88K
HurricaneVery Low51.0
$62K
Winter weatherLow42.2
$39K
WildfireVery Low31.0
$12K
LandslideVery Low57.9
$2K

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 relatively 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 Clark County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane3
Tornado1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Jun 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 29, 2013Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 4, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2008Tropical Storm IkeMajor disaster
Show all 22
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
Mar 13, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Mar 2, 1997Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 24, 1992Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 15, 1990Severe 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 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 642 storm reports in Clark County since 1950, with 9 deaths and 127 injuries and about $140 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 1, 1997 near Okolona.

35tornadoes
192hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
260damaging thunderstorm winds
137floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 1, 1997F4Okolona100 / 6
Mar 5, 1999F3Amity0 / 0
May 27, 1996F3Okolona0 / 0
May 3, 1979F2–2 / 0
Nov 15, 1988F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 1, 1997TornadoOkolona$120M
May 3, 1979Tornado–$3M
Nov 15, 1988Tornado–$3M
Mar 5, 1999TornadoAmity$2M
May 27, 1996TornadoOkolona$2M
Dec 24, 2009FloodAmity$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 2, 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 7 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Clark County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Laura (2020), with top winds near 55 mph about 55 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
7tropical storms
2020most recent: Laura

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph53 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Jul 7, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Oct 13, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Sep 30, 1905UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph55 mi
Jul 7, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Oct 13, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph53 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 Clark County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (45 policies)
10.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$890,988paid on 32 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $343,937 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 Clark County

$155,000median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.8%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; 10,029 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
Hot Spring CountyLow18
Ouachita CountyLow27
Pike CountyVery Low21
Montgomery CountyVery Low22
Nevada CountyVery Low24
Dallas CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Clark County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clark County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clark County, about $3.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Clark County had?

Clark County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Clark County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 57th 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 Clark County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Clark 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 Clark County had?

NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Clark County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 1, 1997 near Okolona. The weather service has also logged 192 hail reports and 137 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Clark County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 7 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Clark County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Laura (2020), with winds near 55 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.