Dallas County, Arkansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 17.7 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 67.4 | $462K | ||
| Tornado | 32.8 | $402K | ||
| Heat wave | 50.8 | $259K | ||
| Strong wind | 37.1 | $251K | ||
| Ice storm | 75.8 | $202K | ||
| Lightning | 35.0 | $89K | ||
| Hail | 24.9 | $62K | ||
| Hurricane | 45.3 | $32K | ||
| Winter weather | 17.9 | $10K | ||
| Cold wave | 4.8 | $9K | ||
| Drought | 24.2 | $7K | ||
| Wildfire | 13.9 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 16.4 | $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
Most recent
Show all 20
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 1996 | F3 | Dalark | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 21, 1999 | F3 | Princeton | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 14, 1990 | F2 | – | 6 / 1 |
| Jan 22, 2012 | EF2 | Beech Grove | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 1967 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22, 2012 | Tornado | Beech Grove | $4M |
| May 1, 2011 | Flood | Carthage | $2M |
| Dec 24, 2009 | Flood | Round Hill | $2M |
| Sep 2, 2008 | Flash Flood | Fordyce Muni Arpt | $550K |
| Oct 29, 2009 | Flash Flood | Round Hill | $500K |
| Mar 14, 1990 | Tornado | – | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 23, 1879 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 14, 1865 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 62 mi |
| Jul 7, 1891 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 mi |
| Sep 24, 1941 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 45 mi |
| Sep 30, 1905 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 55 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 11, 1965 | Betsy | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 24, 1941 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 45 mi |
| Sep 30, 1905 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 55 mi |
| Jul 7, 1891 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 mi |
| Oct 13, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 55 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | Inland flooding | |
| Benton County | Inland flooding | |
| Washington County | Heat wave | |
| Sebastian County | Inland flooding | |
| Faulkner County | Tornado | |
| Saline County | Inland flooding | |
| Craighead County | Earthquake | |
| Garland County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Spring County | 18 | |
| Ouachita County | 27 | |
| Clark County | 22 | |
| Grant County | 17 | |
| Cleveland County | 19 | |
| Calhoun County | 21 |
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.