Natural Disasters in Arkansas: History & Risk Data
52,597 recorded disaster events across 580 ZIP codes.
State Statistics
Event Timeline
Hazard Breakdown
Most Affected ZIP Codes in Arkansas
📊 Arkansas Disaster Profile
With 52,597 recorded natural disaster events across 580 ZIP codes, Arkansas carries a substantial history of natural hazard activity. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $41.7B. A total of 3,293 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.
⚠️ Hazard Distribution
Hailstorms lead Arkansas's disaster profile with 29,096 events (55%), causing $1.5B in property damage. Other significant hazards include tornadoes (8,193 events, $17.7B in damages), floods (6,741 events, $9.6B in damages), and blizzards (4,230 events, $12.5B in damages). Arkansas has no recorded hurricanes in the dataset.
📍 Geographic Impact
The most disaster-affected areas in Arkansas include ZIP 72118 (319 events, $614.5M in damages), ZIP 72206 (313 events, $344.3M in damages), and ZIP 72120 (294 events, $350.9M in damages).
📈 Trends Over Time
Disaster frequency in Arkansas has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 435% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 2011 stands out as particularly active, with 4,136 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Arkansas
What natural disasters occur in Arkansas?
Arkansas has experienced 52,597 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include hailstorms (29,096), tornadoes (8,193), floods (6,741), blizzards (4,230), severe wind events (2,379), wildfires (683), earthquakes (574), extreme heat events (559), and extreme cold events (142). The most common hazard is hailstorms, accounting for 55% of all events.
What are the most disaster-prone areas in Arkansas?
Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in Arkansas are ZIP 72118 (319 events), ZIP 72206 (313 events), ZIP 72120 (294 events), ZIP 72956 (292 events), and ZIP 71653 (276 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.
How much damage have natural disasters caused in Arkansas?
Natural disasters have caused a documented $41.7B in property damage across Arkansas. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.
About This Data
State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →