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St. Francis County, Arkansas

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

Relatively Low overall risk
16th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$19Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: aidankinser, public domain

St. Francis County, Arkansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 75% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, earthquakes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $822 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (81 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $447,000 on 27 claims here.

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

Top risks in St. Francis County

$8.6 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 135 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TornadoHigh96.2
$9M
EarthquakeModerate90.6
$3M
Inland floodingLow41.2
$3M
Heat waveModerate85.4
$1M
Strong windHigh88.7
$1M
DroughtModerate83.0
$625K
Cold waveLow52.9
$599K
Ice stormHigh88.7
$457K
LightningLow47.8
$121K
HailLow41.2
$105K
HurricaneVery Low51.2
$46K
Winter weatherLow41.1
$27K
WildfireVery Low27.1
$7K
LandslideVery Low56.0
$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 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 St. Francis County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm3
Tornado2
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
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 20
Jun 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Jan 23, 1999Ar Severe Weather 1-21-99Major disaster
Apr 14, 1997Flooding, Severe StormsMajor disaster
Apr 23, 1982Severe Storms & TornadoesEmergency
Jan 20, 1978TornadoesEmergency
Jun 8, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 15, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 243 storm reports in St. Francis County since 1957, with 8 deaths and 145 injuries and about $35.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 6, 1974.

24tornadoes
81hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
113damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 6, 1974F3–112 / 4
Apr 19, 1970F3–2 / 0
Jan 7, 1978F3–0 / 0
Dec 21, 2013EF2Rawlison3 / 1
Apr 2, 1982F2–13 / 1

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 6, 1974Tornado–$25M
Jun 2, 2018Thunderstorm WindRosenbaum$6M
May 1, 2011FloodNewcastle$752K
Dec 21, 2013TornadoRawlison$500K
Jan 21, 1999TornadoWheatley$500K
Jun 29, 2014Flash FloodColt$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 11, 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 1888, 0 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of St. Francis County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 65 mph about 57 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
6tropical storms
1969most recent: Camille

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph57 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph54 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph54 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph57 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 St. Francis County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (81 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$446,887paid on 27 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $230,064 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 St. Francis County

$90,900median 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
13.5%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; 9,570 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
Crittenden CountyModerate19
Cross CountyLow22
Lee CountyVery Low16
Monroe CountyVery Low25
Woodruff CountyVery Low26

Common questions about St. Francis County

What is the biggest natural hazard in St. Francis County?

Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in St. Francis County, about $8.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $3.2 million.

How many federal disasters has St. Francis County had?

St. Francis County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is St. Francis County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 16th 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 St. Francis County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in St. Francis 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 St. Francis County had?

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in St. Francis County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 6, 1974. The weather service has also logged 81 hail reports and 22 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit St. Francis County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 6 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of St. Francis County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 65 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.