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Cross County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
29th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$20Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Cross County, Arkansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 65% of US counties. It ranks 29th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,167 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (82 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.2 million on 61 claims here, including $1.1 million for floods in 2003.

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

Top risks in Cross County

Earthquake

Moderate
$10.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 110 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$3.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$1.5 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
EarthquakeModerate94.7
$11M
Inland floodingLow39.3
$4M
TornadoLow61.5
$1M
DroughtModerate82.8
$881K
Strong windModerate70.4
$792K
Heat waveLow70.4
$745K
Ice stormHigh87.2
$578K
Cold waveLow36.3
$452K
HailLow41.9
$154K
LightningLow31.4
$92K
HurricaneVery Low49.6
$58K
Winter weatherLow36.0
$31K
WildfireVery Low12.5
$3K
LandslideVery Low50.0
$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 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 Cross County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane2
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
Apr 2, 2023Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Jun 15, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 22
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 26, 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
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Mar 2, 1997Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 31, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 20, 1978TornadoesEmergency
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 15, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 199 storm reports in Cross County since 1952, with 11 deaths and 60 injuries and about $164 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 21, 1952.

28tornadoes
55hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
100damaging thunderstorm winds
14floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 21, 1952F4–5 / 4
Mar 31, 2023EF3Mc Manus26 / 4
Jan 7, 1978F3–8 / 1
Apr 2, 2006F3Fairoaks5 / 0
May 4, 2003F3Tilton4 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 31, 2023TornadoMc Manus$150M
Apr 2, 2006TornadoFairoaks$5M
Jan 7, 1978Tornado–$3M
May 4, 2003TornadoTilton$1M
May 31, 2013Flash FloodHickory Ridge$914K
Mar 1, 1997TornadoHickory Ridge$750K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 7, 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 6 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Cross County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 65 mph about 61 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
6tropical storms
1969most recent: Camille

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph61 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph51 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph51 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph61 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 Cross County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (82 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.2 millionpaid on 61 flood claims since 1978
2003costliest year, with $1.1 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 Cross County

$117,500median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
48%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.1%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; 7,586 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
Crittenden CountyModerate19
St. Francis CountyLow20
Poinsett CountyLow30
Jackson CountyLow33
Woodruff CountyVery Low26

Common questions about Cross County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cross County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Cross County, about $10.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Cross County had?

Cross County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Cross County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 29th 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 Cross County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Cross 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 Cross County had?

NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Cross County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 21, 1952. The weather service has also logged 55 hail reports and 14 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Cross County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Cross 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.