Little River County, Arkansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AR
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 44th
Little River County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 44.1, 44th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Little River County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 44.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 44th 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 0.48 events per year; lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Medium risk — $499K in expected annual loss and about 61.95 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $564K in expected annual loss and about 4.85 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 12K.
Beyond physical exposure, Little River 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: Little River County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1972, 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, Little River County ranks #52 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 0.48 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 61.95 / yr | $499K |
| Hail | Medium | 4.85 / yr | $564K |
| Drought | Medium | 25.83 / yr | $591K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $381K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 18.37 / yr | $354K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.36 / yr | $982K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.18 / yr | $316K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.86 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $25K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 4.37 / yr | $29K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $15K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $47 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.95 / yr | $48K |
| 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
Little River County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Flood (5), Hurricane (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2025 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| June 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| June 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| October 2008 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Ike |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Little River County?
Little River County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 44.1 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 44th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Little River County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $499K EAL), Hail (Medium, $564K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Little River County compare to other Arkansas counties?
Little River County ranks #52 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Little River County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Little River County since 1972, 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. Little River County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.