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Crittenden County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
11th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$39Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 48homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Crittenden County, Arkansas has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 83% of US counties. It ranks 11th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $39 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $807 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 48 homes here carry federal flood insurance (364 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $13 million on 887 claims here.

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

Top risks in Crittenden County

Earthquake

Moderate
$18.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 105 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$11.2 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 23 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate96.4
$18M
Inland floodingLow72.4
$11M
Heat waveModerate89.3
$2M
TornadoModerate73.3
$2M
Cold waveModerate75.8
$2M
Ice stormHigh92.9
$969K
DroughtModerate83.8
$915K
Strong windLow41.1
$334K
LightningModerate62.9
$291K
HailLow34.6
$112K
HurricaneVery Low47.3
$45K
Winter weatherLow45.5
$43K
WildfireVery Low5.8
$1K
LandslideVery Low39.8
$505

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 Crittenden County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Flood4
Tornado3
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane2
Snowstorm1

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
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 20, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 31, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 17, 1987TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1982Severe Storms & TornadoesEmergency
Apr 16, 1980Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
May 29, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 320 storm reports in Crittenden County since 1960, with 6 deaths and 135 injuries and about $45.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on December 14, 1987.

21tornadoes
101hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
163damaging thunderstorm winds
31floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 14, 1987F3–100 / 6
May 2, 2008EF3Earle Mcneely Arpt4 / 0
Apr 2, 2006F3Jeanette0 / 0
Nov 9, 2002F2Earle0 / 0
Feb 11, 1965F2–3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 14, 1987Tornado–$25M
May 1, 2010Flash FloodWest Memphis$8M
Nov 27, 1994TornadoWest Memphis$5M
May 2, 2008TornadoEarle Mcneely Arpt$2M
Mar 4, 2018FloodCloar$1M
Nov 9, 2002TornadoEarle$600K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 28, 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 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Crittenden County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 65 mph about 64 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
1969most recent: Camille

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 45 mph52 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 45 mph52 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph64 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 Crittenden County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (364 policies)
20%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$12.8 millionpaid on 887 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $2.8 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 Crittenden County

$160,200median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.7%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; 21,388 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
Shelby County, TNHigh26
DeSoto County, MSModerate14
Tipton County, TNModerate23
Mississippi CountyModerate19
St. Francis CountyLow20
Poinsett CountyLow30
Cross CountyLow22
Tunica County, MSVery Low16

Common questions about Crittenden County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Crittenden County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Crittenden County, about $18.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $11.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Crittenden County had?

Crittenden County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Crittenden County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 11th 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 Crittenden County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 48 homes in Crittenden 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 Crittenden County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Crittenden County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on December 14, 1987. The weather service has also logged 101 hail reports and 31 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Crittenden County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Crittenden County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, 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.