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Sevier County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
28th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$14Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: LadyDragonflyCC - >;<, CC BY 2.0

Sevier County, Arkansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 65% of US counties. It ranks 28th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are ice storms, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $870 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 20 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $774,000 on 19 claims here.

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

Top risks in Sevier County

Ice storm

Very High
$6.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
$3.5 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.
$1.1 million 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 High99.9
$7M
Inland floodingLow48.2
$4M
TornadoLow63.5
$1M
HailModerate82.8
$579K
Heat waveLow66.4
$438K
Strong windModerate57.3
$381K
EarthquakeLow61.7
$284K
LightningModerate69.0
$272K
Cold waveLow31.8
$259K
DroughtLow46.7
$66K
HurricaneVery Low54.1
$63K
WildfireVery Low58.0
$42K
Winter weatherLow52.2
$39K
LandslideVery Low61.4
$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 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 Sevier County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Tornado3
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane2
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
Apr 27, 2009Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 30, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Show all 16
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Aug 1, 1983Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1982Severe Storms & TornadoesEmergency
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 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 470 storm reports in Sevier County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 16 injuries and about $11.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 2, 1982.

23tornadoes
188hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
219damaging thunderstorm winds
35floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 2, 1982F4–0 / 0
Apr 9, 2009EF3West Line7 / 0
May 4, 1999F3Falls Chapel0 / 0
Apr 28, 2020EF2Cheatham0 / 0
Nov 20, 1973F2–6 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 9, 2009TornadoWest Line$4M
Apr 2, 1982Tornado–$3M
Sep 2, 2000Thunderstorm WindDe Queen$2M
May 24, 2024TornadoBeacon Hill$500K
Apr 28, 2020TornadoCheatham$400K
Nov 20, 1973Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 12, 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 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Sevier County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1879, with top winds near 45 mph about 64 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph51 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 40 mph51 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 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 Sevier County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (20 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$773,771paid on 19 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $245,472 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 Sevier County

$117,600median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
27.9%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; 6,791 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
McCurtain County, OKLow20
Polk CountyLow22
Howard CountyLow20
Little River CountyLow21

Common questions about Sevier County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sevier County?

Ice storm has the highest expected yearly losses in Sevier County, about $6.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Sevier County had?

Sevier County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Sevier County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 28th 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 Sevier County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Sevier 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 Sevier County had?

NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Sevier County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 2, 1982. The weather service has also logged 188 hail reports and 35 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Sevier County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Sevier 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.