Home › Arkansas › Scott County

Scott County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
69th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$8Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Scott 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 69th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and ice storms. FEMA estimates about $7.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $805 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 9 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.0 million on 10 claims here, including $376,000 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 Scott County

$5.1 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.
$823,904 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.
$584,420 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 floodingLow45.0
$5M
TornadoLow41.8
$824K
Ice stormHigh86.2
$584K
Cold waveLow27.3
$324K
Heat waveLow49.3
$320K
Strong windLow31.6
$273K
EarthquakeVery Low40.3
$139K
WildfireLow67.1
$124K
LightningLow31.7
$103K
HailVery Low27.4
$94K
Winter weatherLow36.6
$35K
HurricaneVery Low34.4
$18K
LandslideVery Low54.3
$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 relatively moderate 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 Scott County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm4
Hurricane2
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
Feb 5, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 21
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
May 30, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 15, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jan 27, 1972Severe 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 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 347 storm reports in Scott County since 1952, with 8 deaths and 3 injuries and about $13 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on November 17, 1952.

9tornadoes
117hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
147damaging thunderstorm winds
68floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 17, 1952F2–2 / 0
Apr 7, 1957F2–0 / 0
Mar 13, 2016EF1Sensation0 / 0
Oct 29, 2009EF1Cardiff0 / 0
Nov 15, 1960F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 30, 2013Flash FloodCoaldale$9M
Oct 29, 2009Flash FloodCoaldale$525K
Mar 18, 2008Thunderstorm WindHon$500K
May 1, 2011FloodCoaldale$500K
Nov 21, 2011Flash FloodCoaldale$400K
Feb 3, 2012Thunderstorm WindWaldron$400K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 6, 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 2008, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Scott County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 40 mph about 54 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph54 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 Scott County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (9 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1 millionpaid on 10 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $375,896 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 Scott County

$115,000median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
48%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.9%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; 4,862 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
Sebastian CountyModerate19
Le Flore County, OKModerate30
Logan CountyLow21
Yell CountyLow20
Polk CountyLow22
Montgomery CountyVery Low22

Common questions about Scott County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Scott County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Scott County, about $5.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $823,904.

How many federal disasters has Scott County had?

Scott County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Scott County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 69th 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 Scott County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Scott 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 Scott County had?

NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Scott County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on November 17, 1952. The weather service has also logged 117 hail reports and 68 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Scott County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Scott County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with winds near 40 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.