Home › Arkansas › Cleveland County

Cleveland County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
74th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$3Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Cleveland County, Arkansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 90% of US counties. It ranks 74th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $2.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $382 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). No 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 Cleveland County

$1.1 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.
$547,726 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$335,087 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 315 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 Low13.9
$1M
TornadoLow40.4
$548K
EarthquakeLow62.9
$335K
Heat waveLow52.2
$262K
Strong windLow35.6
$222K
Ice stormModerate74.7
$178K
HailLow40.4
$113K
LightningLow26.5
$59K
HurricaneVery Low51.3
$51K
Cold waveVery Low7.2
$26K
Winter weatherVery Low18.1
$10K
WildfireVery Low25.4
$7K
DroughtVery Low19.7
$2K
LandslideVery Low10.3
$18

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 Cleveland County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood3
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1

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
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 4, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
Sep 18, 2008Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Mar 13, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Apr 14, 1997Flooding, Severe StormsMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
May 30, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 271 storm reports in Cleveland County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $6.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on March 14, 2008 near New Edinburg.

11tornadoes
82hail reports, largest 3 inches
134damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 14, 2008EF2New Edinburg0 / 0
Jan 22, 2012EF2Kingsland0 / 0
May 6, 1960F2–0 / 0
Apr 25, 1982F2–0 / 0
Jan 7, 1953F2–2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2011FloodMt Zion$2M
Mar 14, 2008TornadoNew Edinburg$1M
Sep 3, 2008FloodStaves$360K
Oct 29, 2009Flash FloodStaves$325K
Dec 24, 2009FloodStaves$300K
Dec 24, 2009Flash FloodStaves$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 15, 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 Cleveland County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1909, with top winds near 65 mph about 62 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 55 mph51 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Jul 7, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 55 mph51 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 40 mph56 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph62 mi
Sep 30, 1905UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph55 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 Cleveland County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$58,297paid on 4 flood claims since 1978
1984costliest year, with $34,647 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 Cleveland County

$137,600median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
29.1%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; 3,587 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
Jefferson CountyModerate23
Grant CountyVery Low17
Drew CountyVery Low18
Lincoln CountyVery Low22
Bradley CountyVery Low24
Dallas CountyVery Low20
Calhoun CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Cleveland County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cleveland County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cleveland County, about $1.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $547,726.

How many federal disasters has Cleveland County had?

Cleveland County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Cleveland County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 74th 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 Cleveland County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Cleveland County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Cleveland County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on March 14, 2008 near New Edinburg. The weather service has also logged 82 hail reports and 39 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Cleveland County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 10 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Cleveland 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.