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Nevada County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
65th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$6Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: LadyDragonflyCC - >;<, CC BY 2.0

Nevada 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 65th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are ice storms, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $691 per resident. Since 1979 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 5 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 Nevada County

Ice storm

Very High
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
$646,300 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
Ice stormVery High98.8
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low24.0
$2M
TornadoLow47.3
$646K
HailLow70.9
$329K
Strong windLow46.8
$288K
Heat waveLow55.4
$276K
EarthquakeVery Low57.1
$227K
LightningLow49.0
$129K
HurricaneVery Low56.9
$85K
DroughtLow41.8
$45K
Cold waveVery Low7.7
$28K
Winter weatherLow31.8
$18K
WildfireVery Low29.5
$8K
LandslideVery Low21.3
$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 Nevada County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm14
Tornado2
Flood2
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane2
Winter Storm2

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
May 30, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 4, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Jun 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor 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
Show all 24
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
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 13, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Mar 2, 1997Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 24, 1992Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 30, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 23, 1988Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1979TornadoMajor 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 344 storm reports in Nevada County since 1954, with 1 death and 12 injuries and about $5.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 1, 1997 near Hope.

24tornadoes
130hail reports, largest 3 inches
142damaging thunderstorm winds
45floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 1, 1997F3Hope2 / 0
Nov 9, 1984F3–0 / 0
Apr 30, 1954F3–0 / 0
May 6, 1960F2–2 / 0
Apr 11, 1979F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 1, 1997TornadoHope$2M
Jun 30, 1994Thunderstorm WindBodcaw$500K
May 6, 1960Tornado–$250K
Apr 11, 1979Tornado–$250K
Dec 23, 1982Tornado–$250K
Mar 4, 1983Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 7 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Nevada County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Laura (2020), 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 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Jul 7, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Oct 13, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Sep 25, 2005RitaTropical storm, 40 mph54 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Jul 7, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Oct 13, 1886UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 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 Nevada County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5,209paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $5,209 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 Nevada County

$83,300median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
29.3%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; 4,308 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
Columbia CountyVery Low20
Ouachita CountyLow27
Clark CountyVery Low22
Hempstead CountyLow24
Pike CountyVery Low21
Lafayette CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Nevada County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Nevada County?

Ice storm has the highest expected yearly losses in Nevada County, about $2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Nevada County had?

Nevada County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1979, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Nevada County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 65th 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 Nevada County?

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

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Nevada County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 1, 1997 near Hope. The weather service has also logged 130 hail reports and 45 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Nevada County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 7 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Nevada County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Laura (2020), 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.