Pulaski County, Arkansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AR
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Pulaski County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 96.8, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $212M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pulaski County at high composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 96.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 97th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Pulaski County's expected losses come from ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $8M in expected annual loss and about 1.09 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Very High risk — $42M in expected annual loss and about 0.64 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at High risk — $50M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $212M in expected annual loss for a population of 399K.
Beyond physical exposure, Pulaski County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The federal record bears this out: Pulaski County has received 33 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including 12 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, Pulaski County ranks #1 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.09 / yr | $8M |
| Tornado | Very High | 0.64 / yr | $42M |
| Earthquake | High | 0.00 / yr | $50M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 5.00 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 4.89 / yr | $91M |
| Lightning | Very High | 61.58 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | High | 3.27 / yr | $3M |
| Hail | High | 5.07 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 18.68 / yr | $6M |
| Landslide | Medium | 0.59 / yr | $39K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.00 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.03 / yr | $607K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $171K |
| Drought | Very Low | 9.78 / yr | $9K |
| 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
Pulaski County has received 33 federal disaster declarations since 1968, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (12), Flood (8), Severe Ice Storm (4).
| 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 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 33 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Pulaski County?
Pulaski County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.8 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 97th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Pulaski County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $8M EAL), Tornado (Very High, $42M EAL), Earthquake (High, $50M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Pulaski County compare to other Arkansas counties?
Pulaski County ranks #1 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Pulaski County had?
FEMA records 33 federal disaster declarations for Pulaski County since 1968, most often 12 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. Pulaski County's $212M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.