Izard County, Arkansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AR
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 53th
Izard County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 53.1, 53th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Izard County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 53.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 53rd national percentile and below the national average 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 — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.73 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $976K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $696K in expected annual loss and about 2.46 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 14K.
Beyond physical exposure, Izard 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.
History supports the rating: Izard County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 13 for severe storm events and 8 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 75 Arkansas counties, Izard County ranks #40 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.73 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $976K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.46 / yr | $696K |
| Landslide | Low | 1.39 / yr | $4K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $56K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 10.26 / yr | $348K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.32 / yr | $832K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.37 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 8.47 / yr | $48K |
| Lightning | Low | 57.21 / yr | $154K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.11 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $18K |
| Drought | Low | 12.88 / yr | $20K |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.11 / yr | $34K |
| 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
Izard County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (13), Flood (8), Severe Ice Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2025 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| May 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, 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 |
| June 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 31 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Izard County?
Izard County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 53.1 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 53th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Izard County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $976K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $696K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Izard County compare to other Arkansas counties?
Izard County ranks #40 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Izard County had?
FEMA records 31 federal disaster declarations for Izard County since 1969, most often 13 for severe storm events and 8 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. Izard County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.