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Lee County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
58th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$7Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 43homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Lee County, Arkansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 60% of US counties. It ranks 58th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $837 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 43 homes here carry federal flood insurance (62 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 59 claims here, including $394,000 for floods in 2022.

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

Top risks in Lee County

Earthquake

Moderate
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 160 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$1.2 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
EarthquakeModerate90.5
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low21.2
$1M
TornadoLow63.6
$1M
Heat waveLow62.7
$375K
Cold waveLow30.0
$238K
Strong windLow39.5
$235K
DroughtLow61.3
$175K
Ice stormModerate69.9
$125K
HailLow37.0
$92K
LightningVery Low22.8
$45K
HurricaneVery Low50.7
$44K
Winter weatherVery Low18.9
$9K
WildfireVery Low7.3
$1K
LandslideVery Low21.2
$75

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 Lee County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm6
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane2
Snowstorm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Feb 5, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Show all 16
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Mar 2, 1997Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
May 30, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 31, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 123 storm reports in Lee County since 1955, with 1 death and 29 injuries and about $4.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on November 19, 1970.

13tornadoes
34hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
60damaging thunderstorm winds
16floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 19, 1970F3–27 / 0
Dec 3, 1978F2–0 / 0
Nov 23, 1973F2–1 / 0
Dec 23, 2015EF2Scott Vly0 / 0
Dec 28, 2015EF2Aubrey0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 3, 1978Tornado–$3M
May 1, 2011FloodJocks$550K
Nov 19, 1970Tornado–$250K
Nov 23, 1973Tornado–$250K
Nov 23, 1983Tornado–$250K
Dec 23, 2015TornadoScott Vly$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 2, 2025. 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 1888, 0 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Lee County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 65 mph about 57 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
6tropical storms
1969most recent: Camille

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph57 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph59 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 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 Lee County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (62 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.3 millionpaid on 59 flood claims since 1978
2022costliest year, with $393,699 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 Lee County

$75,300median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.6%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; 3,694 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
Crittenden CountyModerate19
St. Francis CountyLow20
Phillips CountyLow16
Tunica County, MSVery Low16
Monroe CountyVery Low25

Common questions about Lee County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lee County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Lee County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Lee County had?

Lee County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Lee County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 58th 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 Lee County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 43 homes in Lee 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 Lee County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Lee County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on November 19, 1970. The weather service has also logged 34 hail reports and 16 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Lee County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Lee County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 65 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.