Sharp County, Arkansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AR
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 68th
Sharp County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 68.1, 68th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $16M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Sharp County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 68.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 68th 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 Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.18 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $760K in expected annual loss and about 2.28 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $16M in expected annual loss for a population of 17K.
Beyond physical exposure, Sharp 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: Sharp County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1969, 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, Sharp County ranks #24 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.18 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.01 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.28 / yr | $760K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.41 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Low | 1.37 / yr | $6K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 2.11 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 12.05 / yr | $576K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.00 / yr | $7M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 8.21 / yr | $62K |
| Lightning | Low | 57.49 / yr | $163K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $36K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $47K |
| Drought | Very Low | 6.66 / yr | $16K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.81 / yr | $55K |
| 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
Sharp County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Flood (5), Severe Ice Storm (4).
| 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 |
| May 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Laura |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms,Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| January 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 26 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Sharp County?
Sharp County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 68.1 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 68th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Sharp County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $760K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Sharp County compare to other Arkansas counties?
Sharp County ranks #24 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Sharp County had?
FEMA records 26 federal disaster declarations for Sharp County since 1969, 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. Sharp County's $16M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.