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Perry County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
67th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$7Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Perry County, Arkansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 72% of US counties. It ranks 67th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and ice storms. FEMA estimates about $7.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $737 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 29 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 30 claims here, including $875,000 for floods in 2019.

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

Top risks in Perry County

$3.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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.
$1.6 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.
$463,116 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 floodingLow38.5
$4M
TornadoLow64.2
$2M
Ice stormHigh84.5
$463K
Heat waveLow55.6
$386K
Strong windLow39.7
$329K
EarthquakeVery Low56.5
$310K
DroughtLow54.5
$161K
HailLow37.8
$131K
Cold waveVery Low14.6
$117K
LightningLow34.3
$102K
WildfireVery Low55.1
$50K
Winter weatherLow31.3
$25K
HurricaneVery Low35.0
$17K
LandslideVery Low53.9
$1K

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 relatively 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 Perry County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm4
Hurricane3
Drought1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Jun 8, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 30, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingEmergency
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
Jan 29, 2013Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 23
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 18, 2008Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
May 15, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jan 27, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 15, 1969Severe 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 414 storm reports in Perry County since 1955, with 1 death and 0 injuries and about $10.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on November 27, 2005 near Thornburg.

19tornadoes
103hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
167damaging thunderstorm winds
116floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 27, 2005F3Thornburg0 / 0
Nov 15, 1955F2–0 / 0
May 26, 1955F2–0 / 0
Mar 12, 1961F2–0 / 0
Sep 3, 1980F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 27, 2005TornadoThornburg$4M
May 1, 2011FloodHouston$2M
Mar 19, 2008FloodPerryville$700K
Apr 25, 2011TornadoThornburg$700K
Apr 11, 2008FloodNogal$300K
Apr 26, 2011FloodHouston$300K

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 1879, 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Perry County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, with top winds near 45 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
5tropical storms
2020most recent: Laura

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph49 mi
Sep 30, 1905UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph57 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph49 mi
Sep 30, 1905UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph59 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 Perry County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (29 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 30 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $875,480 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 Perry County

$130,200median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1989median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
33%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
23.7%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; 4,972 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
Pulaski CountyHigh31
Faulkner CountyModerate26
Saline CountyLow21
Garland CountyModerate19
Conway CountyLow27
Yell CountyLow20

Common questions about Perry County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Perry County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Perry County, about $3.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Perry County had?

Perry County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Perry County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 67th 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 Perry County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Perry 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 Perry County had?

NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Perry County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on November 27, 2005 near Thornburg. The weather service has also logged 103 hail reports and 116 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Perry County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Perry 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.