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Montgomery County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
64th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$6Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Montgomery County, Arkansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 69% of US counties. It ranks 64th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and ice storms. FEMA estimates about $5.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $666 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 43 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.4 million on 57 claims here, including $1.2 million for floods in 2010.

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

Top risks in Montgomery County

$3.6 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.
$696,813 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.
$312,047 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow48.7
$4M
TornadoLow49.7
$697K
Ice stormHigh83.7
$312K
Strong windLow45.9
$275K
Heat waveLow53.4
$249K
EarthquakeVery Low46.2
$128K
Cold waveVery Low18.2
$110K
LightningLow44.9
$110K
HailLow36.5
$89K
WildfireVery Low61.5
$53K
Winter weatherLow41.4
$27K
HurricaneVery Low42.2
$20K
LandslideLow66.0
$2K

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 Montgomery County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane3
Tornado1
Drought1

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 15, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 22
Oct 22, 2008Tropical Storm IkeMajor disaster
Sep 18, 2008Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Apr 14, 1997Flooding, Severe StormsMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 27, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 15, 1969Severe 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 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 456 storm reports in Montgomery County since 1957, with 20 deaths and 34 injuries and about $13.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on May 30, 2013 near Huddleston.

15tornadoes
151hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
195damaging thunderstorm winds
66floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 30, 2013EF2Huddleston2 / 0
May 1, 2003F2Pine Ridge0 / 0
Mar 13, 2016EF1Joplin0 / 0
Apr 25, 2011EF1Welsh0 / 0
Apr 25, 2011EF1Pine Ridge0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 11, 2010Flash FloodSlatington$9M
May 1, 2011FloodPencil Bluff$1M
Apr 30, 2017Heavy RainMt Ida$1M
May 30, 2013Flash FloodPencil Bluff$500K
Apr 26, 2011FloodPencil Bluff$250K
May 30, 2013TornadoHuddleston$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 7, 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 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Montgomery County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, with top winds near 45 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph54 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph54 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 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 Montgomery County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (43 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.4 millionpaid on 57 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $1.2 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 Montgomery County

$151,900median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1989median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
35%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
28.2%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; 5,485 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
Garland CountyModerate19
Hot Spring CountyLow18
Clark CountyVery Low22
Yell CountyLow20
Polk CountyLow22
Howard CountyLow20
Pike CountyVery Low21
Scott CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Montgomery County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Montgomery County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Montgomery County, about $3.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $696,813.

How many federal disasters has Montgomery County had?

Montgomery County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Montgomery County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 64th 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 Montgomery County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Montgomery County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on May 30, 2013 near Huddleston. The weather service has also logged 151 hail reports and 66 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Montgomery County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Montgomery County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, 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.