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Sharp County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
24th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$16Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sharp County, Arkansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 68% of US counties. It ranks 24th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, ice storms and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $910 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). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (57 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.6 million on 113 claims here, including $1.8 million for floods in 2025.

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

Top risks in Sharp County

$6.6 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.

Ice storm

Very High
$2.3 million 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.9 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
Inland floodingLow66.3
$7M
Ice stormVery High99.2
$2M
TornadoModerate76.3
$2M
EarthquakeLow86.6
$2M
Cold waveModerate71.8
$1M
Strong windModerate79.8
$760K
Heat waveLow71.7
$576K
LightningLow55.1
$163K
Winter weatherModerate64.6
$62K
HailVery Low25.5
$55K
HurricaneVery Low51.1
$47K
WildfireVery Low54.5
$36K
DroughtVery Low30.4
$16K
LandslideLow75.4
$6K

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 Sharp County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm4
Hurricane2
Drought1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 8, 2025Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
May 30, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Apr 29, 2014Severe Storms,Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 24
Feb 6, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 22, 2008Tropical Storm IkeMajor disaster
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 7, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 6, 2003Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Apr 14, 1997Flooding, Severe StormsMajor disaster
May 30, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jun 7, 1975Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 15, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 370 storm reports in Sharp County since 1956, with 3 deaths and 32 injuries and about $91.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on December 24, 1982.

22tornadoes
110hail reports, largest 3 inches
137damaging thunderstorm winds
88floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 24, 1982F4–0 / 0
Feb 5, 2008EF3Horseshoe Bend15 / 0
Dec 2, 1982F3–3 / 0
Mar 5, 1996F3Sidney0 / 0
Feb 14, 1956F2–2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 5, 2008TornadoHorseshoe Bend$30M
Dec 2, 1982Tornado–$25M
Mar 18, 2008FloodHardy$15M
May 1, 2011FloodWirth$5M
May 1, 2017FloodHardy$3M
Mar 18, 2008Flash FloodWirth$2M

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 1906, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Sharp County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 50 mph about 56 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1941most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph41 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph41 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 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 Sharp County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (57 policies)
9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.6 millionpaid on 113 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $1.8 million 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 Sharp County

$105,100median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.2%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; 9,525 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
Independence CountyLow29
Randolph CountyLow25
Lawrence CountyLow21
Izard CountyLow29
Fulton CountyLow26
Oregon County, MOLow23

Common questions about Sharp County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sharp County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Sharp County, about $6.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Ice storm is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Sharp County had?

Sharp 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 Sharp County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 24th 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 Sharp County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Sharp 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 Sharp County had?

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Sharp County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on December 24, 1982. The weather service has also logged 110 hail reports and 88 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Sharp County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Sharp County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, 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.