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Grant County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
72nd of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$6Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Grant County, Arkansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 84% of US counties. It ranks 72nd of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $6.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $341 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 17 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $145,000 on 16 claims here.

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

Top risks in Grant County

$2 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.
$1.4 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.
$635,619 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 285 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low16.7
$2M
TornadoLow54.4
$1M
EarthquakeLow66.1
$636K
Heat waveLow61.1
$603K
Strong windLow47.5
$505K
Ice stormModerate81.1
$444K
HailLow45.3
$217K
Cold waveVery Low12.7
$116K
LightningLow29.1
$104K
HurricaneVery Low37.8
$25K
Winter weatherLow25.2
$23K
WildfireVery Low24.1
$10K
DroughtVery Low19.0
$3K
LandslideVery Low20.6
$123

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 relatively low 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 Grant County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm6
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane3
Tornado2
Winter Storm2
Flood1

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
Jan 29, 2013Severe Winter StormMajor 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 17
May 20, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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 29, 1968Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 380 storm reports in Grant County since 1950, with 1 death and 4 injuries and about $11.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 12, 1966.

27tornadoes
106hail reports, largest 4 inches
190damaging thunderstorm winds
44floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 12, 1966F3–2 / 0
Jan 21, 1999F3Poyen0 / 0
May 2, 2008EF2Leola0 / 0
Dec 3, 1982F2–0 / 0
Feb 12, 1950F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 2, 2008TornadoLeola$4M
May 2, 2008TornadoBelfast$2M
May 1, 2011FloodIco$1M
May 6, 2009Flash FloodTull$600K
Dec 24, 2009FloodTull$500K
Dec 24, 2009Flash FloodTull$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 15, 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 7 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Grant County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1909, with top winds near 55 mph about 60 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
7tropical storms
2020most recent: Laura

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 50 mph50 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Jul 7, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph35 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 50 mph50 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph35 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi
Sep 30, 1905UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph55 mi
Jul 7, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 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 Grant County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (17 policies)
16.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$145,456paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $49,988 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 Grant County

$161,700median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
31%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
22.4%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; 7,957 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
Saline CountyLow21
Jefferson CountyModerate23
Hot Spring CountyLow18
Cleveland CountyVery Low19
Dallas CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Grant County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Grant County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Grant County, about $2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Grant County had?

Grant County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Grant County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 72nd 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 Grant County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Grant 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 Grant County had?

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Grant County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 12, 1966. The weather service has also logged 106 hail reports and 44 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Grant County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 7 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Grant County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1909, with winds near 55 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.