Drew County, Arkansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AR
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 35th
Drew County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 35.1, 35th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Drew County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 35.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 35th 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 Drew County's expected losses come from earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $684K in expected annual loss and about 9.63 events per year; and ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Medium risk — $229K in expected annual loss and about 0.96 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 17K.
Beyond physical exposure, Drew County has a very high 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). 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: Drew County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 7 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, Drew County ranks #60 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Medium | 9.63 / yr | $684K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.96 / yr | $229K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 19.95 / yr | $864K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.44 / yr | $571K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.57 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $91K |
| Hail | Low | 3.19 / yr | $115K |
| Lightning | Low | 63.34 / yr | $79K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.53 / yr | $217K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.21 / yr | $112 |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.64 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.79 / yr | $8K |
| 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
Drew County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (7), Hurricane (3), Winter Storm (2).
| 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 |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| February 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| December 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Drew County?
Drew County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 35.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 35th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Drew County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL), Drought (Medium, $684K EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $229K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Drew County compare to other Arkansas counties?
Drew County ranks #60 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Drew County had?
FEMA records 20 federal disaster declarations for Drew County since 1973, most often 7 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. Drew County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.