Benton County, Arkansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AR
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 89th
Benton County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 88.7, 89th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $92M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Benton County carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 88.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 89th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Benton County's expected losses come from ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $11M in expected annual loss and about 1.92 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 11.26 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 9.68 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $92M in expected annual loss for a population of 284K.
Beyond physical exposure, Benton County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Benton County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 11 for severe storm events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 75 Arkansas counties, Benton County ranks #6 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.92 / yr | $11M |
| Winter Weather | High | 11.26 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 9.68 / yr | $7M |
| Lightning | High | 57.61 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | High | 6.28 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.50 / yr | $50M |
| Landslide | Medium | 0.86 / yr | $52K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M |
| Hail | Medium | 7.78 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.84 / yr | $5M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.79 / yr | $5M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $109K |
| Drought | Low | 10.66 / yr | $129K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Benton County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Flood (5), Severe Ice Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| May 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Laura |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| September 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| May 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Benton County?
Benton County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 88.7 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 89th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Benton County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $11M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $7M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Benton County compare to other Arkansas counties?
Benton County ranks #6 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Benton County had?
FEMA records 25 federal disaster declarations for Benton County since 1969, most often 11 for severe storm events and 5 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in January 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Benton County's $92M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.