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Greene County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
12th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$34Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 56homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Greene County, Arkansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 80% of US counties. It ranks 12th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $34 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $743 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 56 homes here carry federal flood insurance (320 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.0 million on 235 claims here.

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

Top risks in Greene County

Earthquake

Moderate
$13.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 90 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$8 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$5 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
EarthquakeModerate95.7
$14M
Inland floodingLow63.2
$8M
TornadoModerate87.9
$5M
Heat waveModerate91.0
$3M
Ice stormVery High95.2
$1M
DroughtModerate90.4
$1M
Cold waveLow45.4
$636K
Strong windModerate61.5
$610K
LightningModerate76.5
$502K
Winter weatherModerate76.3
$140K
HailVery Low26.4
$79K
HurricaneVery Low46.1
$40K
WildfireVery Low30.0
$11K
LandslideLow62.9
$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 relatively 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 Greene County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm14
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm3
Tornado2
Hurricane2
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 8, 2025Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
May 30, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Feb 5, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 4, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 26
Feb 6, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 22, 2008Tropical Storm IkeMajor disaster
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 12, 2006Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 6, 2003Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jan 23, 1999Ar Severe Weather 1-21-99Major disaster
Apr 14, 1997Flooding, Severe StormsMajor disaster
Mar 2, 1997Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Nov 23, 1988Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
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 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 346 storm reports in Greene County since 1954, with 3 deaths and 66 injuries and about $39.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1968.

39tornadoes
113hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
146damaging thunderstorm winds
45floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1968F3–6 / 1
Mar 1, 1997F3Fontaine5 / 1
Apr 2, 2006F3Delaplaine47 / 0
Nov 26, 1965F3–0 / 0
Apr 3, 1957F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 2, 2006TornadoDelaplaine$25M
Apr 3, 1968Tornado–$3M
Apr 13, 1967Tornado–$3M
Mar 14, 2025TornadoBrookings$2M
Jul 12, 2009LightningParagould$1M
May 26, 2024TornadoFinch$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 1906, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Greene County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 50 mph about 55 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1941most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph52 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph52 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical 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 Greene County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (320 policies)
13.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1 millionpaid on 235 flood claims since 1978
1990costliest year, with $195,152 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 Greene County

$169,300median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1991median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
37%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.7%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; 19,603 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
Craighead CountyModerate26
Dunklin County, MOLow20
Randolph CountyLow25
Lawrence CountyLow21
Clay CountyLow23

Cities in Greene County

Common questions about Greene County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Greene County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Greene County, about $13.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $8 million.

How many federal disasters has Greene County had?

Greene County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Greene County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 12th 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 Greene County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 56 homes in Greene 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 Greene County had?

NOAA records list 39 tornadoes in Greene County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 3, 1968. The weather service has also logged 113 hail reports and 45 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Greene County?

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