Enter any address in Craighead County, Arkansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Craighead County. Recent examples include flash flooding in March 2021 due to a slow-moving warm front and heavy rain, and isolated flash flooding in the Jonesboro area in February 2023 from widespread showers and thunderstorms.
Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 82 flash flood events, along with 10 flood events and one tropical storm. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have seen the most claims, with an average payout of $18,355 for a water depth of 2.7 feet. However, properties in Zone X have experienced higher average payouts ($34,473) and deeper water (4.8 feet), despite fewer claims. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in any zone with a history of claims and deeper water inundation, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Craighead County, Arkansas has recorded 93 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 82 flash floods and 10 river or area floods. The county has received 28 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1968–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2025 |
| Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Tornado | Dec 10, 2021 |
| Hurricane Laura | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Tornado | Mar 28, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 26, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 14, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 23, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jan 30, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 8, 2023 | 200.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 5, 2022 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 17, 2021 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 17, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 17, 2021 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2021 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 11, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 1, 2020 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jan 30, 2025
A low-pressure system and associated cold front resulted in heavy rainfall and flash flooding across parts of east Arkansas. Ample moisture provided the fuel for training storms which produced two to four inches of rain during the early afternoon along and west of the Mississippi River. The heavy rainfall axis then shifted east over a less saturated surface and the flooding threat diminished.
Flash Flood — Feb 8, 2023
A stalled front resulted in widespread showers and thunderstorms across northeast Arkansas during the late morning and early afternoon of February 8, 2023. Locally heavy rainfall in the Jonesboro area resulted in isolated flash flooding. Later in the day, the stalled front lifted north as a warm front. In the warm sector, south of the warm front and ahead of an approaching cold front, a cluster...
Flash Flood — Aug 5, 2022
A shortwave trough moved south from Missouri over parts of the Mid-South. Showers and thunderstorms slowly moved over the area, causing heavy rainfall resulting in flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Mar 17, 2021
A slow-moving warm front lifted north into the Mid-South during the morning hours of March 17th with numerous showers and thunderstorms. Heavy rain produced some flash flooding and there were a couple of severe weather reports along with a couple of damaging lightning strikes. The front stalled across the area during the day with southern parts of the Mid-South, especially northeast Mississippi...
Flash Flood — Aug 13, 2021
A cold front moved in from the northwest causing thunderstorms to develop resulting in some flash flooding in portions of Arkansas and southwestern Tennessee.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Craighead County, Arkansas:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Craighead County, Arkansas that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.