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Drew County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
60th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$7Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Drew County, Arkansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 65% of US counties. It ranks 60th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $413 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 32 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $671,000 on 40 claims here.

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

Top risks in Drew County

$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 310 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
$1.3 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
EarthquakeLow83.7
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low19.0
$1M
TornadoLow63.1
$1M
Heat waveLow77.9
$864K
DroughtModerate82.4
$684K
Strong windModerate67.2
$571K
Ice stormModerate78.4
$229K
Cold waveLow25.8
$217K
HailLow40.2
$115K
HurricaneVery Low56.6
$91K
LightningLow33.5
$79K
Winter weatherVery Low15.1
$8K
WildfireVery Low25.7
$7K
LandslideVery Low24.2
$112

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Drew County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Hurricane3
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm2
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
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
Feb 4, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Show all 18
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
Jan 23, 1999Ar Severe Weather 1-21-99Major disaster
Apr 14, 1997Flooding, Severe StormsMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 369 storm reports in Drew County since 1955, with 1 death and 11 injuries and about $9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 23, 1957.

21tornadoes
92hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
182damaging thunderstorm winds
56floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 23, 1957F3–0 / 0
Oct 17, 1980F2–2 / 1
Mar 27, 2021EF2Rose Hill0 / 0
Feb 21, 1971F2–0 / 0
Apr 24, 1973F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 6, 2009Thunderstorm WindRock Spgs$3M
May 15, 1995HailLacey$1M
May 1, 2011FloodRock Spgs$750K
Sep 2, 2008Flash FloodBethel$340K
Mar 27, 2021TornadoRose Hill$300K
Oct 17, 1980Tornado–$250K

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 8 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Drew County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 70 mph about 60 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph49 mi
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 50 mph50 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 50 mph50 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph55 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph49 mi
Sep 30, 1905UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 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 Drew County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (32 policies)
9.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$670,868paid on 40 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $282,219 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 Drew County

$140,800median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
23.1%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; 8,289 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
Ashley CountyLow13
Lincoln CountyVery Low22
Desha CountyVery Low19
Bradley CountyVery Low24
Chicot CountyLow16
Cleveland CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Drew County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Drew County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Drew County, about $1.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Drew County had?

Drew County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Drew County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 60th 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 Drew County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Drew 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 Drew County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Drew County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 23, 1957. The weather service has also logged 92 hail reports and 56 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Drew County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Drew County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 70 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.