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Johnson County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
35th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$14Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Johnson County, Arkansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 58% of US counties. It ranks 35th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and ice storms. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $557 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 46 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Johnson County

$6.9 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.7 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.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow62.0
$7M
TornadoModerate78.9
$3M
Ice stormHigh95.1
$1M
Heat waveModerate79.3
$1M
Cold waveLow43.6
$537K
EarthquakeLow69.1
$535K
Strong windModerate60.5
$530K
LightningModerate76.0
$444K
HailLow48.1
$173K
WildfireLow67.4
$102K
DroughtLow46.5
$82K
Winter weatherModerate66.1
$80K
HurricaneVery Low36.4
$17K
LandslideLow67.1
$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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm4
Tornado2
Hurricane2
Drought1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Jun 8, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 30, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingEmergency
Jun 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jul 8, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 24
Feb 6, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 7, 2004Sever Storms, Flooding and LandslidesMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
May 15, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 23, 1988Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1980Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Dec 3, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jun 8, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1972Severe 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 551 storm reports in Johnson County since 1954, with 5 deaths and 150 injuries and about $32.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 24, 2011 near New Spadra.

39tornadoes
177hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
271damaging thunderstorm winds
56floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 24, 2011EF3New Spadra4 / 1
Apr 7, 1980F3–76 / 0
Feb 15, 1954F3–24 / 0
Apr 14, 1960F3–0 / 0
Jun 6, 1974F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 24, 2011TornadoNew Spadra$13M
May 24, 2011TornadoCoal Hill$6M
Apr 7, 1980Tornado–$3M
Nov 18, 1985Tornado–$3M
Nov 15, 1988Tornado–$3M
Oct 29, 2009Flash FloodOark$2M

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 2008, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Johnson County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 45 mph about 57 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph57 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 Johnson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (46 policies)
11.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$34,108paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $18,909 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 Johnson County

$135,300median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
38%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.1%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; 11,555 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
Pope CountyLow17
Logan CountyLow21
Franklin CountyLow25
Madison CountyLow28
Newton CountyVery Low28

Common questions about Johnson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Johnson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Johnson County, about $6.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Johnson County had?

Johnson County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Johnson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 35th 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 Johnson County?

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

NOAA records list 39 tornadoes in Johnson County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 24, 2011 near New Spadra. The weather service has also logged 177 hail reports and 56 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Johnson County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Johnson County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with winds near 45 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.