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Monroe County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
59th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$8Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 37homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Monroe County, Arkansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 64% of US counties. It ranks 59th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,119 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 37 homes here carry federal flood insurance (104 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.4 million on 170 claims here, including $3.4 million for floods in 2011.

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

Top risks in Monroe County

$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 180 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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.
$1.3 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
EarthquakeLow89.0
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low28.4
$2M
TornadoLow63.6
$1M
Heat waveLow48.8
$233K
Strong windLow35.3
$232K
Ice stormModerate72.9
$169K
Cold waveVery Low20.9
$159K
HailLow38.5
$111K
DroughtLow50.5
$99K
LightningLow24.2
$55K
HurricaneVery Low49.4
$46K
Winter weatherVery Low21.4
$12K
WildfireVery Low20.3
$5K
LandslideVery Low13.1
$31

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood6
Tornado3
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane2
Snowstorm1

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
Jul 10, 2020Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 4, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 25
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 24, 2002Severe 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
Apr 14, 1997Flooding, Severe StormsMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
May 15, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 31, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1982Severe Storms & TornadoesEmergency
Jun 7, 1975Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe 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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 353 storm reports in Monroe County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $76 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on February 9, 1965.

22tornadoes
90hail reports, largest 3 inches
130damaging thunderstorm winds
106floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 9, 1965F3–5 / 0
Jan 21, 1999F3Clarendon0 / 0
Apr 2, 1982F2–0 / 0
Nov 23, 1973F2–0 / 0
Apr 17, 1978F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2011FloodZent$50M
Jul 2, 1994TornadoTo 6.5$5M
Jul 1, 2014FloodZent$5M
Mar 18, 2008FloodClarendon Muni Arpt$3M
Nov 1, 2009FloodClarendon$3M
Apr 2, 1982Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 28, 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 7 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Monroe County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 65 mph about 64 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
7tropical storms
2020most recent: Laura

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph45 mi
Aug 24, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph54 mi
Sep 30, 1905UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 2020LauraTropical storm, 35 mph64 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph54 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph45 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Sep 30, 1905UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 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 Monroe County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (104 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.4 millionpaid on 170 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $3.4 million 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 Monroe County

$88,700median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
60%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16%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; 3,829 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
St. Francis CountyLow20
Arkansas CountyLow18
Phillips CountyLow16
Lee CountyVery Low16
Prairie CountyVery Low20
Woodruff CountyVery Low26

Common questions about Monroe County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Monroe County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Monroe County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Monroe County had?

Monroe County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Monroe County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 59th 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 Monroe County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 37 homes in Monroe 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 Monroe County had?

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Monroe County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on February 9, 1965. The weather service has also logged 90 hail reports and 106 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Monroe County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 7 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Monroe 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.