Stone County, Arkansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AR
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 50th
Stone County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 49.9, 50th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Stone County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 49.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 50th 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.
Most of Stone County's expected losses come from ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.72 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $8K in expected annual loss and about 1.75 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.41 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 12K.
Beyond physical exposure, Stone 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: Stone County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 13 for severe storm events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 75 Arkansas counties, Stone County ranks #45 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.72 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Low | 1.75 / yr | $8K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.41 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $628K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $97K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 8.53 / yr | $48K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 10.16 / yr | $281K |
| Lightning | Low | 58.44 / yr | $157K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.18 / yr | $4M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.26 / yr | $525K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.81 / yr | $286K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $17K |
| Drought | Low | 12.41 / yr | $19K |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.66 / yr | $50K |
| 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
Stone County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (13), Flood (6), Severe Ice Storm (3).
| 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 |
| April 2023 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 30 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Stone County?
Stone County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 49.9 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 50th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Stone County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL), Landslide (Low, $8K EAL), Tornado (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Stone County compare to other Arkansas counties?
Stone County ranks #45 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Stone County had?
FEMA records 30 federal disaster declarations for Stone County since 1969, most often 13 for severe storm events and 6 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. Stone County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.