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Searcy County, Arkansas

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

Very Low overall risk
68th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$6Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
Photo: LadyDragonflyCC - >;<, CC BY 2.0

Searcy 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 68th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are ice storms, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $819 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). No 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 Searcy County

Ice storm

Very High
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
$1.8 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.
$1 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Ice stormVery High98.4
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low21.0
$2M
TornadoLow55.6
$1M
Cold waveLow36.3
$390K
EarthquakeVery Low56.6
$270K
Strong windLow33.4
$229K
Heat waveVery Low36.9
$136K
LightningLow42.1
$121K
WildfireLow68.0
$103K
Winter weatherLow37.5
$29K
HailVery Low10.4
$23K
LandslideLow76.9
$8K
HurricaneVery Low17.2
$3K

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm4
Hurricane2
Winter Storm2
Drought1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Apr 4, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Jun 8, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
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 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 24
Jun 25, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 7, 2004Sever Storms, Flooding and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jan 6, 2003Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1997Flooding, Severe StormsMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 1976DroughtEmergency
Feb 15, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Arkansas also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 305 storm reports in Searcy County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $11.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 3, 1958.

17tornadoes
112hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
127damaging thunderstorm winds
42floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1958F2–0 / 0
Mar 12, 1961F2–2 / 0
May 7, 1973F2–0 / 0
Mar 7, 2017EF2Pindall0 / 0
Feb 16, 2023EF2Pindall0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2011FloodPindall$3M
Mar 1, 1997Thunderstorm WindMarshall$2M
Mar 18, 2008Flash FloodMarshall$1M
Apr 26, 2011FloodPindall$750K
Apr 19, 1993TornadoCanaan To$500K
Mar 18, 2008FloodWoolum$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 28, 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 Searcy County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 45 mph about 22 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph22 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph22 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 Searcy County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Searcy County

$110,000median 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
18.6%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; 4,721 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
Pope CountyLow17
Baxter CountyLow19
Boone CountyLow21
Marion CountyLow26
Van Buren CountyLow23
Stone CountyLow28
Newton CountyVery Low28

Common questions about Searcy County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Searcy County?

Ice storm has the highest expected yearly losses in Searcy County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Searcy County had?

Searcy County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Searcy County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 68th 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 Searcy County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Searcy County had?

NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Searcy County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 3, 1958. The weather service has also logged 112 hail reports and 42 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Searcy County?

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