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Faulkner County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
8th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$75Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 100homes with flood insurance
Photo: aidankinser, public domain

Faulkner County, Arkansas has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 86% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, inland flooding and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $75 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $606 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (420 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.7 million on 321 claims here, including $3.3 million for floods in 2019.

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

Top risks in Faulkner County

$23 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.
$21.6 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$15.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 170 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TornadoHigh97.1
$23M
Inland floodingModerate77.0
$22M
EarthquakeModerate94.4
$15M
Heat waveModerate91.7
$4M
Ice stormVery High98.2
$4M
Strong windHigh92.2
$3M
Cold waveLow51.4
$1M
LightningModerate81.4
$966K
HailLow57.9
$440K
WildfireLow77.8
$404K
Winter weatherModerate83.6
$314K
DroughtLow48.1
$158K
HurricaneVery Low52.8
$117K
LandslideVery Low61.7
$4K

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 low 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 Faulkner County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood5
Tornado4
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane2
Drought1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Nov 14, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Jun 8, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 30, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingEmergency
Jun 15, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 2014Severe Storms,Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 26
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor 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
Jan 23, 1999Ar Severe Weather 1-21-99Major disaster
Apr 14, 1997Flooding, Severe StormsMajor disaster
May 15, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 23, 1988Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1982Severe Storms & TornadoesEmergency
Apr 16, 1980Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 3, 1976DroughtEmergency
Feb 15, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 1968Tornadoes, Severe 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 822 storm reports in Faulkner County since 1952, with 30 deaths and 538 injuries and about $322 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on April 27, 2014 near Palarm.

62tornadoes
266hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
361damaging thunderstorm winds
105floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 27, 2014EF4Palarm167 / 12
Apr 10, 1965F4–200 / 6
Apr 2, 1982F3–37 / 2
May 13, 1957F3–18 / 1
Dec 24, 1982F3–7 / 1

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 27, 2014TornadoPalarm$210M
Apr 25, 2011TornadoMayflower$52M
Apr 10, 1965Tornado–$25M
May 1, 2011FloodTwin Groves$9M
Apr 2, 1982Tornado–$3M
May 6, 1960Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 22, 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 1879, 0 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Faulkner County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 50 mph about 57 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
6tropical storms
2020most recent: Laura

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 mi
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 40 mph52 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Sep 30, 1905UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 40 mph52 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Sep 30, 1905UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph54 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 Faulkner County

Check your address flood zone ›
1%of homes have federal flood insurance (420 policies)
17.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7.7 millionpaid on 321 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $3.3 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 Faulkner County

$232,700median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1998median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
18%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10%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; 53,650 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
Pulaski CountyHigh31
White CountyModerate27
Lonoke CountyLow27
Cleburne CountyLow21
Conway CountyLow27
Van Buren CountyLow23
Perry CountyVery Low23

Cities in Faulkner County

Common questions about Faulkner County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Faulkner County?

Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in Faulkner County, about $23 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $21.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Faulkner County had?

Faulkner County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Faulkner County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 8th 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 Faulkner County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 100 homes in Faulkner 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 Faulkner County had?

NOAA records list 62 tornadoes in Faulkner County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on April 27, 2014 near Palarm. The weather service has also logged 266 hail reports and 105 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Faulkner County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Faulkner County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with winds near 50 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.