Faulkner County, Arkansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AR
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 86th
Faulkner County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 86.2, 86th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $75M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Faulkner County is medium, with a National Risk Index score of 86.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 86th 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.
Risk here concentrates in ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 1.28 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $23M in expected annual loss and about 0.54 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Medium risk — $15M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $75M in expected annual loss for a population of 123K.
Beyond physical exposure, Faulkner 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: Faulkner County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including 10 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, Faulkner County ranks #8 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.28 / yr | $4M |
| Tornado | High | 0.54 / yr | $23M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $15M |
| Strong Wind | High | 3.34 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 17.74 / yr | $4M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 5.32 / yr | $314K |
| Lightning | Medium | 60.86 / yr | $966K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $404K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.18 / yr | $22M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.50 / yr | $4K |
| Hail | Low | 5.29 / yr | $440K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $117K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.05 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Low | 8.75 / yr | $158K |
| 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
Faulkner County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Flood (5), Tornado (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| November 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Laura |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| May 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| June 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Faulkner County?
Faulkner County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 86.2 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 86th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Faulkner County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $4M EAL), Tornado (High, $23M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $15M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Faulkner County compare to other Arkansas counties?
Faulkner County ranks #8 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Faulkner County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Faulkner County since 1968, most often 10 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. Faulkner County's $75M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.