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Conway County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
36th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$13Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Conway County, Arkansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 57% of US counties. It ranks 36th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $649 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 27 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $279,000 on 27 claims here.

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

Top risks in Conway County

$4.1 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.1 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.
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 235 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow45.4
$4M
TornadoModerate82.4
$3M
EarthquakeLow86.9
$2M
Ice stormHigh94.6
$1M
Heat waveLow71.1
$679K
Strong windModerate67.6
$639K
Cold waveLow37.2
$414K
LightningModerate64.3
$282K
HailLow57.0
$242K
DroughtLow61.6
$221K
WildfireLow74.9
$183K
Winter weatherModerate63.8
$73K
HurricaneVery Low52.7
$66K
LandslideVery Low53.1
$1K

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 Conway County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm14
Flood5
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1
Drought1

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
Jun 15, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 27
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 18, 2008Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
May 20, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 7, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 12, 2006Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 13, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Mar 2, 1997Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 15, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jan 27, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 15, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 1968Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 549 storm reports in Conway County since 1956, with 8 deaths and 54 injuries and about $48.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on February 5, 2008 near Hattieville.

42tornadoes
189hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
226damaging thunderstorm winds
63floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 5, 2008EF3Hattieville5 / 2
May 6, 1960F3–24 / 1
Feb 14, 1956F3–3 / 1
Nov 27, 2005F3Morrilton8 / 1
Nov 15, 1988F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 5, 2008TornadoHattieville$15M
May 1, 2011FloodJerusalem$7M
May 2, 2008TornadoBirdtown$5M
May 6, 1960Tornado–$3M
Nov 15, 1988Tornado–$3M
Apr 30, 2010TornadoLick Mtn$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 1879, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Conway County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, with top winds near 45 mph about 60 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
2020most recent: Laura

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph47 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph65 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph47 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 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 Conway County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (27 policies)
8.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$279,413paid on 27 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $96,966 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 Conway County

$154,100median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.4%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; 9,703 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
Faulkner CountyModerate26
Pope CountyLow17
Yell CountyLow20
Van Buren CountyLow23
Perry CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Conway County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Conway County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Conway County, about $4.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Conway County had?

Conway County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Conway County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 36th 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 Conway County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Conway 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 Conway County had?

NOAA records list 42 tornadoes in Conway County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on February 5, 2008 near Hattieville. The weather service has also logged 189 hail reports and 63 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Conway County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Conway County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, with winds near 45 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.