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Fulton County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
43rd of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$9Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Fulton County, Arkansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 51% of US counties. It ranks 43rd of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, ice storms and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $9.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $777 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 13 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 61 claims here, including $533,000 for floods in 2025.

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

Top risks in Fulton County

$3.3 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.

Ice storm

Very High
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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 floodingLow45.6
$3M
Ice stormVery High99.3
$2M
TornadoLow64.8
$1M
Cold waveLow62.9
$901K
EarthquakeLow76.3
$710K
Heat waveLow66.5
$443K
Strong windModerate52.3
$335K
LightningLow48.3
$125K
WildfireVery Low56.0
$38K
Winter weatherLow49.4
$35K
HailVery Low12.3
$23K
HurricaneVery Low32.9
$10K
LandslideLow70.0
$3K

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm12
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm4
Hurricane2
Drought1
Tornado1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
May 30, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Jun 15, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 29, 2014Severe Storms,Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 26
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
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
Jan 6, 2003Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
May 30, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1982Severe Storms & TornadoesEmergency
Dec 3, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 15, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 306 storm reports in Fulton County since 1956, with 5 deaths and 32 injuries and about $11.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on December 24, 1982.

22tornadoes
88hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
146damaging thunderstorm winds
40floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 24, 1982F4–5 / 0
Apr 2, 1982F3–2 / 2
Mar 14, 1959F2–15 / 1
Feb 24, 2001F2Union3 / 1
Jun 24, 1968F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2011FloodVidette$3M
Mar 18, 2008Flash FloodOtt$2M
Apr 10, 2008FloodMammoth Spg$2M
Apr 26, 2011FloodVidette$1M
May 9, 2016Thunderstorm WindSalem$500K
Jan 13, 2007Flash FloodSalem$310K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 27, 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 1909, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Fulton County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 50 mph about 53 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph53 mi
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph53 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 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 Fulton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (13 policies)
900%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.7 millionpaid on 61 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $532,611 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 Fulton County

$113,800median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
23.6%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; 6,225 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
Baxter CountyLow19
Howell County, MOLow23
Sharp CountyLow24
Izard CountyLow29
Oregon County, MOLow23
Ozark County, MOVery Low25

Common questions about Fulton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Fulton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fulton County, about $3.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Ice storm is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Fulton County had?

Fulton County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Fulton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 43rd 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 Fulton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Fulton 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 Fulton County had?

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Fulton County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on December 24, 1982. The weather service has also logged 88 hail reports and 40 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Fulton County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Fulton 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.