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Dallas County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
73rd of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$3Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Dallas 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 73rd of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $3.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $498 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 3 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 Dallas County

$1.4 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.
$462,175 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 320 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$402,325 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 floodingVery Low17.7
$1M
EarthquakeLow67.4
$462K
TornadoLow32.8
$402K
Heat waveLow50.8
$259K
Strong windLow37.1
$251K
Ice stormModerate75.8
$202K
LightningLow35.0
$89K
HailVery Low24.9
$62K
HurricaneVery Low45.3
$32K
Winter weatherVery Low17.9
$10K
Cold waveVery Low4.8
$9K
DroughtVery Low24.2
$7K
WildfireVery Low13.9
$3K
LandslideVery Low16.4
$50

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 Dallas County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood4
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Winter Storm2
Tornado1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Feb 5, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 4, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 20
Dec 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
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
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 1967

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 325 storm reports in Dallas County since 1967, with 3 deaths and 11 injuries and about $11.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 27, 1996 near Dalark.

28tornadoes
74hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
180damaging thunderstorm winds
36floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 27, 1996F3Dalark0 / 0
Jan 21, 1999F3Princeton0 / 0
Mar 14, 1990F2–6 / 1
Jan 22, 2012EF2Beech Grove0 / 0
May 6, 1967F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 22, 2012TornadoBeech Grove$4M
May 1, 2011FloodCarthage$2M
Dec 24, 2009FloodRound Hill$2M
Sep 2, 2008Flash FloodFordyce Muni Arpt$550K
Oct 29, 2009Flash FloodRound Hill$500K
Mar 14, 1990Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 25, 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 8 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Dallas County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Laura (2020), with top winds near 60 mph about 63 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
8tropical storms
2020most recent: Laura

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Jul 7, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph45 mi
Sep 30, 1905UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 60 mph63 mi
Sep 11, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph45 mi
Sep 30, 1905UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph55 mi
Jul 7, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Oct 13, 1886UnnamedTropical 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 Dallas County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
1.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7,084paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2003costliest year, with $7,084 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 Dallas County

$97,300median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17%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; 3,470 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
Hot Spring CountyLow18
Ouachita CountyLow27
Clark CountyVery Low22
Grant CountyVery Low17
Cleveland CountyVery Low19
Calhoun CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Dallas County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Dallas County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Dallas County, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $462,175.

How many federal disasters has Dallas County had?

Dallas County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Dallas County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 73rd 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 Dallas County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Dallas 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 Dallas County had?

NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Dallas County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 27, 1996 near Dalark. The weather service has also logged 74 hail reports and 36 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Dallas County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Dallas County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Laura (2020), with winds near 60 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.