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Little River County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
52nd of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$9Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Little River County, Arkansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 56% of US counties. It ranks 52nd of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, ice storms and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $9.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $771 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 4 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 Little River County

$3.7 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
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
$982,009 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 floodingLow44.1
$4M
Ice stormVery High97.8
$2M
TornadoLow55.2
$982K
DroughtModerate79.4
$591K
HailModerate79.6
$564K
LightningModerate80.9
$499K
EarthquakeLow64.0
$381K
Heat waveLow57.9
$354K
Strong windLow45.1
$316K
Cold waveVery Low9.9
$48K
Winter weatherLow39.2
$29K
HurricaneVery Low42.8
$25K
WildfireVery Low37.9
$15K
LandslideVery Low16.0
$47

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 Little River County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane2
Tornado1
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
Jun 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2008Tropical Storm IkeMajor disaster
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 21
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 13, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
May 30, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 15, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 1, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1982Severe Storms & TornadoesEmergency
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 435 storm reports in Little River County since 1954, with 5 deaths and 12 injuries and about $22 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 2, 1982.

24tornadoes
184hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
190damaging thunderstorm winds
33floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 2, 1982F3–2 / 1
Apr 2, 1982F3–0 / 0
Apr 30, 1954F3–0 / 0
May 4, 1999F3Wallace0 / 0
Oct 13, 2014EF2Comet4 / 1

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 1, 2015FloodLanesport$14M
Apr 2, 1982Tornado–$3M
Apr 2, 1982Tornado–$3M
Apr 4, 2011Thunderstorm WindAshdown$500K
Dec 4, 1999Thunderstorm WindAshdown$400K
Apr 30, 1954Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 11, 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 1879, 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Little River County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, with top winds near 50 mph about 61 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Sep 25, 2005RitaTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Sep 25, 2005RitaTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 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 Little River County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$81,504paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $48,437 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 Little River County

$113,500median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
51%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.6%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; 6,059 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
Bowie County, TXLow24
Miller CountyLow19
McCurtain County, OKLow20
Hempstead CountyLow24
Sevier CountyLow16
Howard CountyLow20

Common questions about Little River County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Little River County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Little River County, about $3.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Ice storm is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Little River County had?

Little River County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Little River County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 52nd 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 Little River County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Little River 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 Little River County had?

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Little River County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 2, 1982. The weather service has also logged 184 hail reports and 33 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Little River County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Little River County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, 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.