10,247 flood insurance claims·$217.6M paid·10,879 policies in force
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Arkansas. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Arkansas faces a mixed flood risk profile dominated heavily by frequent flash floods and standard riverine flooding. Over the last 30 years, NOAA data records 3,722 flash flood events resulting in 68 deaths, alongside 1,895 general flood events causing 24 deaths. The state is also periodically impacted by tropical systems, including 127 tropical storm events resulting in one death, 90 tropical depression events, and 4 hurricanes.
Federal disaster declarations reflect this persistent severe weather, underscored by multiple concurrent declarations on April 2, 2025, for severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding. These recurrent weather systems test communities across the state, highlighting ongoing vulnerabilities to combined storm and flood impacts.
National Flood Insurance Program records indicate that high-risk Zone A bears the brunt of the financial impact, accounting for 6,827 claims totaling $149 million paid out, with an average claim of $27,211. However, risk is not confined to designated high-risk zones. Zone X properties account for a combined 2,752 claims across shaded, unshaded, and general categories, resulting in over $63 million paid. This distribution shows that residents in standard or unshaded zones still face significant flood risk and file surprise claims, demonstrating that flood insurance is necessary outside of traditional high-risk areas.
Summary generated from FEMA disaster declarations, NOAA storm events, and NFIP claim data. Updated quarterly.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims, Policies, and Disaster Declarations data. NFIP policies in force and average premium (premium plus federal policy fee) as of August 31, 2026, from OpenFEMA.
Arkansas has received 1,824 federal disaster declarations, including 312 flood and coastal storm declarations and 18 hurricane declarations.
NFIP claims by county, 1978 to date. Source: OpenFEMA. Counties ranked by recorded flood events →
Properties in Arkansas FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, are required to carry flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Arkansas had 10,879 NFIP policies in force on August 31, 2026, and the average NFIP premium was $1,083 a year (premium plus the federal policy fee; the reserve fund assessment and HFIAA surcharge come on top, and nationally they make actual bills about a quarter higher). Under FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 each building is priced on its own flood risk, so a state average says little about what any one home will pay.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from properties outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Arkansas residents can purchase flood insurance through the NFIP or private insurers.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.
See the most flood-prone counties in Arkansas →
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