Ouachita County, Arkansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AR
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 51th
Ouachita County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 51.2, 51th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Ouachita County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 51.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 51st 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $727K in expected annual loss and about 0.99 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $890K in expected annual loss and about 3.73 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 $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 23K.
Beyond physical exposure, Ouachita County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a 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: Ouachita County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1979, including 11 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, Ouachita County ranks #42 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | High | 0.99 / yr | $727K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.73 / yr | $890K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 19.26 / yr | $790K |
| Hail | Medium | 4.32 / yr | $453K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.46 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 64.71 / yr | $309K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $1K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $84K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 4.07 / yr | $5M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 3.68 / yr | $27K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8K |
| Drought | Very Low | 14.12 / yr | $5K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.47 / yr | $40K |
| 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
Ouachita County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1979, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Flood (5), Tornado (3).
| 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 |
| 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 |
| June 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| May 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 Ouachita County?
Ouachita County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 51.2 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 51th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Ouachita County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (High, $727K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $890K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Ouachita County compare to other Arkansas counties?
Ouachita County ranks #42 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Ouachita County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Ouachita County since 1979, most often 11 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. Ouachita County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.