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Pike County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
70th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$7Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Pike County, Arkansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 73% of US counties. It ranks 70th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $6.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $654 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 22 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $377,000 on 10 claims here.

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

Top risks in Pike County

$3.7 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.
$732,750 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$524,567 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow39.9
$4M
TornadoLow43.1
$733K
Strong windModerate58.4
$525K
Ice stormHigh84.3
$434K
HailLow66.4
$363K
Heat waveLow51.1
$294K
EarthquakeVery Low52.5
$235K
LightningLow46.5
$156K
Cold waveVery Low12.3
$83K
HurricaneVery Low49.6
$54K
DroughtLow38.6
$44K
WildfireVery Low49.9
$35K
Winter weatherLow31.9
$24K
LandslideVery Low54.0
$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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane2
Tornado1
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
Feb 5, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 22, 2008Tropical Storm IkeMajor disaster
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 21
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Jul 24, 1992Severe ThunderstormsMajor disaster
May 15, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 1, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe 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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 439 storm reports in Pike County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $10.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 13, 1957.

24tornadoes
177hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
179damaging thunderstorm winds
40floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 13, 1957F2–0 / 0
Jan 26, 1965F2–0 / 0
Mar 5, 1999F2Newhope0 / 0
Mar 5, 1999F2Kirby0 / 0
Mar 5, 1999F2Newhope0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 2, 2023Thunderstorm WindKirby$6M
May 1, 2011FloodLangley$1M
Apr 26, 2011FloodLangley$350K
Apr 4, 1986Tornado–$250K
Apr 25, 2011TornadoDaisy$200K
May 23, 2020Flash FloodGlenwood$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 22, 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 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Pike County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Laura (2020), with top winds near 50 mph about 62 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph53 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph53 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Sep 14, 1865UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 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 Pike County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (22 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$377,039paid on 10 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $316,873 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 Pike County

$121,600median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
26.8%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; 5,324 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
Clark CountyVery Low22
Hempstead CountyLow24
Polk CountyLow22
Howard CountyLow20
Montgomery CountyVery Low22
Nevada CountyVery Low24

Common questions about Pike County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pike County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pike County, about $3.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $732,750.

How many federal disasters has Pike County had?

Pike County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Pike County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 70th 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 Pike County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Pike 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 Pike County had?

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Pike County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 13, 1957. The weather service has also logged 177 hail reports and 40 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Pike County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Pike County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Laura (2020), with winds near 50 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.