Home › Arkansas › Miller County

Miller County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
22nd of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$20Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Miller County, Arkansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 71% of US counties. It ranks 22nd of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $477 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (148 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.7 million on 140 claims here, including $964,000 for floods in 1998.

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

Top risks in Miller County

$5.7 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.

Hail

High
$3.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.6 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
Inland floodingLow57.3
$6M
HailHigh97.7
$4M
TornadoModerate84.9
$4M
Ice stormVery High97.7
$2M
Heat waveModerate87.2
$2M
Strong windHigh89.5
$1M
DroughtModerate79.8
$641K
LightningModerate80.7
$512K
EarthquakeLow68.6
$504K
Cold waveLow38.5
$430K
WildfireLow64.3
$79K
Winter weatherModerate62.8
$69K
HurricaneVery Low51.4
$57K
LandslideVery Low37.3
$376

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood3
Tornado2
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane2
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
Jun 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 4, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 2009Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2008Tropical Storm IkeMajor disaster
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Mar 13, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Jan 23, 1999Ar Severe Weather 1-21-99Major disaster
May 15, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1972Severe 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 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 580 storm reports in Miller County since 1952, with 1 death and 15 injuries and about $102 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 9, 2009 near Ravanna.

31tornadoes
201hail reports, largest 4 inches
287damaging thunderstorm winds
52floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 9, 2009EF3Ravanna0 / 0
Dec 23, 1982F2–0 / 0
Dec 23, 1982F2–0 / 0
Dec 23, 1982F2–0 / 0
Apr 24, 1973F2–3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 31, 2008HailTexarkana Arpt$85M
Dec 23, 1982Tornado–$3M
Dec 23, 1982Tornado–$3M
Dec 23, 1982Tornado–$3M
May 22, 2008Thunderstorm WindTexarkana$2M
May 28, 1998Flash FloodTexarkana$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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 10 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Miller County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Laura (2020), with top winds near 60 mph about 64 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
10tropical storms
2020most recent: Laura

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Jul 6, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Oct 13, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 60 mph64 mi
Jul 14, 2019BarryTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 24, 2005RitaTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 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 Miller County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (148 policies)
10.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.7 millionpaid on 140 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year, with $964,032 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 Miller County

$153,900median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.6%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; 19,844 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
Caddo Parish, LAModerate32
Bossier Parish, LAModerate33
Bowie County, TXLow24
Cass County, TXLow26
Hempstead CountyLow24
Little River CountyLow21
Lafayette CountyVery Low19

Cities in Miller County

Common questions about Miller County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Miller County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Miller County, about $5.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $3.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Miller County had?

Miller County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Miller County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 22nd 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 Miller County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Miller 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 Miller County had?

NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Miller County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 9, 2009 near Ravanna. The weather service has also logged 201 hail reports and 52 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Miller County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 10 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Miller County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Laura (2020), with winds near 60 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.