Flood Help Guide

Arkansas flood insurance and flood history

From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08

10,260NFIP flood claims since 1978
$220.6 millionPaid on those claims
$53,005Average paid claimlast 10 years
0.8%Homes with NFIP flood insurance
27Flood disaster declarationssince 2000

FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 10,260 flood insurance claims in Arkansas since 1978. The NFIP paid $220.6 million on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).

The year with the most claims was 2011, with 1,158, mostly from Mid-spring storms.

In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 2,086 claims, and the average paid claim was $53,005.

29% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).

About 0.8% of homes in Arkansas had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (8,993 of 1,189,681 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 17% (6,825 of 40,426).

Since 2000, FEMA has made 27 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of Arkansas. The most recent was DR-4873-AR (Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding), declared May 21, 2025.

Flood insurance claims in Arkansas by year

NFIP flood claims per year in Arkansas, 1978 to 202605001k1.5k2k1978: 293 claims, $2.1 million paid1979: 170 claims, $525,617 paid1980: 102 claims, $534,121 paid19801981: 139 claims, $564,266 paid1982: 361 claims, $2.2 million paid1983: 191 claims, $929,100 paid1984: 349 claims, $2.3 million paid1985: 67 claims, $212,677 paid1986: 75 claims, $723,601 paid1987: 371 claims, $2.8 million paid1988: 141 claims, $402,324 paid1989: 143 claims, $963,188 paid1990: 356 claims, $3.6 million paid19901991: 238 claims, $1.6 million paid1992: 21 claims, $18,972 paid1993: 44 claims, $813,758 paid1994: 83 claims, $586,992 paid1995: 28 claims, $154,584 paid1996: 46 claims, $345,387 paid1997: 199 claims, $2.0 million paid1998: 118 claims, $1.3 million paid1999: 41 claims, $238,914 paid2000: 38 claims, $411,148 paid20002001: 210 claims, $1.7 million paid2002: 118 claims, $2.6 million paid2003: 152 claims, $2.6 million paid2004: 165 claims, $2.3 million paid2005: 26 claims, $291,213 paid2006: 78 claims, $1.3 million paid2007: 63 claims, $533,983 paid2008: 701 claims, $15.5 million paid2009: 687 claims, $15.6 million paid2010: 206 claims, $4.9 million paid20102011: 1,158 claims, $30.8 million paid2012: 49 claims, $502,144 paid2013: 151 claims, $3.5 million paid2014: 160 claims, $2.1 million paid2015: 368 claims, $10.3 million paid2016: 268 claims, $6.9 million paid2017: 636 claims, $26.4 million paid2018: 126 claims, $2.5 million paid2019: 503 claims, $31.8 million paid2020: 70 claims, $2.1 million paid20202021: 154 claims, $4.7 million paid2022: 150 claims, $5.5 million paid2023: 85 claims, $2.6 million paid2024: 81 claims, $4.1 million paid2025: 269 claims, $14.0 million paid2026: 12 claims, $85,040 paid
NFIP claims per year by year of loss. Hover or tap a bar for the count and amount paid. 2026 is partial.
Show as a table
YearClaimsPaid
202612$85,040
2025269$14.0 million
202481$4.1 million
202385$2.6 million
2022150$5.5 million
2021154$4.7 million
202070$2.1 million
2019503$31.8 million
2018126$2.5 million
2017636$26.4 million
2016268$6.9 million
2015368$10.3 million
2014160$2.1 million
2013151$3.5 million
201249$502,144
20111,158$30.8 million
2010206$4.9 million
2009687$15.6 million
2008701$15.5 million
200763$533,983
200678$1.3 million
200526$291,213
2004165$2.3 million
2003152$2.6 million
2002118$2.6 million
2001210$1.7 million
200038$411,148
199941$238,914
1998118$1.3 million
1997199$2.0 million
199646$345,387
199528$154,584
199483$586,992
199344$813,758
199221$18,972
1991238$1.6 million
1990356$3.6 million
1989143$963,188
1988141$402,324
1987371$2.8 million
198675$723,601
198567$212,677
1984349$2.3 million
1983191$929,100
1982361$2.2 million
1981139$564,266
1980102$534,121
1979170$525,617
1978293$2.1 million

Biggest flood events by NFIP payments

The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for Arkansas, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.

EventYearClaimsPaid
Mid-spring storms20111,067$29.5 million
Late spring severe storms2017578$25.8 million
Central U.S. April Flooding2025220$11.7 million
March storm2008230$6.7 million
Early winter storms2015168$5.0 million
Spring storm2015100$4.1 million
Flooding1987337$2.7 million
Flooding1982201$1.9 million
Flooding1978216$1.9 million
Late winter severe storms201677$1.7 million

Flood history by county

Every Arkansas county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy.

CountyClaimsPaidInsuredFlood declarations
Pulaski County1,720$30.4 million1.1%11
Crittenden County887$12.8 million2.1%6
Jefferson County596$14.4 million0.9%9
Phillips County456$3.8 million1.8%7
Washington County435$13.7 million0.7%7
Sebastian County421$19.0 million0.6%6
Craighead County410$7.9 million2.0%9
Benton County338$9.2 million0.4%10
Faulkner County321$7.7 million1.0%9
Saline County275$7.7 million0.5%8
Garland County271$4.3 million1.3%6
Greene County235$1.0 million1.8%9
Randolph County234$9.6 million1.0%10
Desha County206$3.6 million4.2%7
Independence County187$2.3 million0.5%12
Clay County180$4.1 million1.3%9
Jackson County174$3.1 million1.9%13
Monroe County170$4.4 million2.7%8
Chicot County153$4.2 million3.0%8
Miller County140$2.7 million0.9%7
Union County137$2.1 million0.5%5
White County134$3.0 million0.4%12
Baxter County115$2.9 million0.3%7
Sharp County113$3.6 million0.5%8
Mississippi County91$2.2 million0.7%7
Ouachita County91$1.5 million0.6%11
Arkansas County89$1.4 million0.9%8
Lonoke County89$1.3 million0.7%7
Prairie County87$2.8 million0.8%12
Woodruff County72$1.7 million0.8%12
Crawford County71$1.6 million0.4%8
Izard County71$2.4 million0.7%10
Poinsett County70$1.7 million0.7%11
Pope County64$969,9860.3%6
Ashley County61$824,7980.6%4
Cross County61$2.2 million1.1%8
Fulton County61$1.7 million0.2%10
Bradley County59$1.4 million0.3%10
Lee County59$1.3 million2.3%6
Montgomery County57$1.4 million0.8%8
Franklin County48$716,0570.1%13
Lawrence County48$896,7561.5%8
Drew County40$670,8680.6%7
Cleburne County37$1.2 million0.8%10
Boone County35$484,5000.1%9
Clark County32$890,9880.5%10
Perry County30$1.1 million0.6%11
Lincoln County29$700,9651.3%11
Conway County27$279,4130.3%13
St. Francis County27$446,8871.2%7
Howard County26$162,0790.2%6
Polk County23$191,7640.1%7
Hot Spring County20$294,2070.4%7
Sevier County19$773,7710.3%5
Van Buren County18$588,0020.2%9
Grant County16$145,4560.4%6
Columbia County14$89,5660.1%7
Yell County12$147,1310.2%8
Pike County10$377,0390.4%8
Scott County10$1.0 million0.2%8
Calhoun County9$148,3940.2%10
Hempstead County9$617,7240.1%8
Marion County9$1.1 million0.2%13
Stone County8$196,6840.1%11
Carroll County7$9,0230.0%9
Logan County7$78,1790.1%8
Madison County7$112,4990.1%11
Newton County7$119,0940.0%13
Johnson County6$34,1080.4%9
Lafayette County5$101,8750.0%8
Cleveland County4$58,2970.0%8
Little River County3$81,5040.1%9
Dallas County1$7,0840.1%10
Nevada County1$5,2090.1%12
Searcy County0$00.0%11

Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in Arkansas

Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.

DeclarationDeclaredEventHelp for individuals
DR-4873-AR May 21, 2025 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
EM-3627-AR Apr 5, 2025 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-4788-AR May 30, 2024 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-4460-AR Sep 13, 2019 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-4441-AR Jun 8, 2019 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
EM-3414-AR May 30, 2019 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-4318-AR Jun 15, 2017 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding Yes
DR-4270-AR May 6, 2016 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4254-AR Feb 5, 2016 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding Yes
DR-4226-AR Jun 26, 2015 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding Yes
DR-4174-AR Apr 29, 2014 Severe Storms,Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-4143-AR Sep 4, 2013 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-4124-AR Jun 25, 2013 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-4000-AR Jul 8, 2011 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-1975-AR May 2, 2011 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding Yes
DR-1872-AR Feb 4, 2010 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1861-AR Dec 3, 2009 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-1845-AR Jun 16, 2009 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-1793-AR Sep 18, 2008 Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Hurricane Gustav No
DR-1758-AR May 20, 2008 Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes Yes
DR-1751-AR Mar 26, 2008 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-1744-AR Feb 7, 2008 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-1528-AR Jun 30, 2004 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1516-AR May 7, 2004 Sever Storms, Flooding and Landslides No
DR-1472-AR Jun 6, 2003 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes

Showing the 25 most recent of 27.

What to do with this

A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.

Where these numbers come from

All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:

FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.