Home › Arkansas › Crawford County

Crawford County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
21st of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$30Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Crawford County, Arkansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 72% of US counties. It ranks 21st of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $30 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $498 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (105 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.6 million on 71 claims here, including $486,000 for floods in 2019.

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

Top risks in Crawford County

$13.3 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$4.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 24 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.2 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow70.6
$13M
Heat waveModerate93.4
$5M
TornadoModerate81.4
$4M
Cold waveLow64.1
$2M
Ice stormHigh95.0
$2M
WildfireModerate91.1
$2M
EarthquakeLow66.6
$656K
LightningModerate77.9
$655K
DroughtModerate69.0
$490K
Strong windLow41.7
$428K
HailLow63.3
$421K
Winter weatherModerate79.9
$207K
LandslideModerate88.6
$48K
HurricaneVery Low43.4
$40K

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm4
Tornado2
Hurricane2
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
Feb 5, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jul 8, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 24
Feb 6, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Apr 23, 1996Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 15, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 1976DroughtEmergency
May 29, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 1968Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 3, 1968Tornado & Severe StormMajor 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 791 storm reports in Crawford County since 1953, with 1 death and 102 injuries and about $182 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 21, 1996 near Van Buren.

43tornadoes
312hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
323damaging thunderstorm winds
110floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 21, 1996F3Van Buren49 / 0
Apr 30, 1954F3–0 / 0
Apr 14, 1960F3–3 / 0
Dec 2, 1982F3–0 / 0
May 4, 1999F3Natural Dam0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 21, 1996TornadoVan Buren$150M
May 3, 2021TornadoVan Buren$15M
Oct 16, 1984Tornado–$3M
Oct 16, 1984Tornado–$3M
Nov 30, 2018TornadoVan Buren$3M
Mar 5, 1999HailAlma$800K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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 2008, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Crawford County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 40 mph about 58 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph58 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 Crawford County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (105 policies)
16.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.6 millionpaid on 71 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $486,413 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 Crawford County

$182,800median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
35%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.9%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; 25,621 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 CountyModerate18
Sebastian CountyModerate19
Sequoyah County, OKLow29
Adair County, OKLow27
Franklin CountyLow25
Madison CountyLow28

Common questions about Crawford County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Crawford County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Crawford County, about $13.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $4.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Crawford County had?

Crawford County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Crawford County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 21st 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 Crawford County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Crawford 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 Crawford County had?

NOAA records list 43 tornadoes in Crawford County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 21, 1996 near Van Buren. The weather service has also logged 312 hail reports and 110 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Crawford County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Crawford County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with winds near 40 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.