Prairie County

Arkansas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

41.4

National percentile: 41th

Prairie County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 41.4, 41th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $9M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Low Capacity to recover
Population 8K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Earthquake
Low $2M/yr
Ice Storm
Medium $317K/yr
Tornado
Medium $1M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Earthquake Low 0.01 / yr $2M
Ice Storm Medium 1.24 / yr $317K
Tornado Medium 0.51 / yr $1M
Heat Wave Low 18.63 / yr $277K
Hurricane Very Low 0.02 / yr $50K
Hail Low 4.04 / yr $158K
Drought Low 10.98 / yr $69K
Riverine Flood Low 2.57 / yr $4M
Strong Wind Low 2.49 / yr $249K
Winter Weather Low 5.05 / yr $22K
Lightning Low 58.13 / yr $66K
Landslide Very Low 0.22 / yr $109
Cold Wave Very Low 1.05 / yr $183K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $5K
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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Prairie County?

Prairie County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 41.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 41th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Prairie County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $317K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Prairie County compare to other Arkansas counties?

Prairie County ranks #56 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

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. Prairie County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.