Bradley County, Arkansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AR
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 31th
Bradley County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 30.8, 31th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Bradley County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 30.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 31st national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Bradley County's expected losses come from ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $358K in expected annual loss and about 1.19 events per year; heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 19.89 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $6M in expected annual loss for a population of 11K.
Beyond physical exposure, Bradley County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Bradley County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 10 for severe storm events and 3 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 75 Arkansas counties, Bradley County ranks #63 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | High | 1.19 / yr | $358K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 19.89 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Low | 17.06 / yr | $117K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $66K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.42 / yr | $794K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.86 / yr | $320K |
| Lightning | Low | 64.58 / yr | $82K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.39 / yr | $54K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.21 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $64 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.74 / yr | $10K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.47 / yr | $59K |
| 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
Bradley County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Hurricane (3), Tornado (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| April 2023 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Laura |
| July 2020 | Tornado | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| May 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| May 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 26 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Bradley County?
Bradley County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 30.8 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 31th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Bradley County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (High, $358K EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $1M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Bradley County compare to other Arkansas counties?
Bradley County ranks #63 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Bradley County had?
FEMA records 26 federal disaster declarations for Bradley County since 1973, most often 10 for severe storm events and 3 for hurricane 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. Bradley County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.